Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013
Opponent: San Diego Toreros (2-0)
Site: Hill Field House, Baltimore, Maryland
Game Time: 7 p.m. (ET)
MSU Coach: Todd Bozeman (128-102 – 8th yr)
BALTIMORE, Md. — Morgan State continues the 2013-14 campaign on the road against the Toreros of the University of San Diego. It will mark the second basketball meeting between the teams. The Toreros posted a 66-63 win in San Diego during the teams meeting last season. Tip-off at Hill Field House is scheduled for 7 p.m.
SCOUTING THE TOREROS
The Toreros welcomed back six veterans, including three starters, from a squad that posted a 16-18 overall record, finished 5th in the West Coast Conference with a 7-9 ledger. WCC Honorable mention guards Johnny Dee (15.0 ppg) along with Christopher Anderson (9.4 ppg) return as the Toreros leading scorers. Bill Grier (Oregon, ’90) enters his seventh season as the Toreros’ head men’s basketball coach where he currently holds a 86-111 record. Johnny Dee scored 17 points and hit three 3-pointers last Saturday night to lead San Diego to a 70-59 win over Grand Canyon. San Diego had four players score in double figures. Dennis Kramer had 14 points and Christopher Anderson added 13. Both players had six rebounds. Duda Sanadze made two 3-pointers and finished with 11 points.
LAST TIME VS THE TOREROS
Dec. 30, 2012 — Johnny Dee scored 24 points, Chris Manresa had 10 points and 13 rebounds and San Diego hit a few free throws down the stretch to seal a 66-63 victory over Morgan State on Saturday night. San Diego (7-8) was 11 of 28 from the free-throw line up until the last few seconds when Dee was a perfect 4 for 4. Dee hit his first pair of free throws to make it 64-60 with 13 seconds to go but on the ensuing possession for Morgan State, DeWayne Jackson hit a 3-pointer to cut the Toreros’ lead to one, 64-63. Dee was fouled again with 6 seconds left and calmly hit two more free throws, giving his team a 66-63 lead and the win. Miles Cameron had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists for San Diego. Justin Black led Morgan State (3-7) with 16 points, Anthony Hubbard had 12 and Jackson had 11.
BEARS SET FOR PARADISE JAM
Morgan State will face La Salle in the first round of the 2013 Ezybonds Global Payments U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. The Paradise Jam will take place Nov. 22-25, with the games set to be televised by CBS Sports Network.The first game of the event pits Northern Iowa vs. Loyola Marymount at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, with Maryland and Marist following at approximately 5 p.m. The evening session includes Providence vs. Vanderbilt and Morgan State vs. La Salle.The losing teams in the first round will move to the consolation bracket and play on Saturday, Nov. 23, while the winners will play on Sunday, Nov. 24. The championship game is scheduled for 10 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 25.
MORGAN STATE TABBED SECOND IN PRESEASON POLL
Morgan State was picked to finish second in the 2013-14 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men’s basketball preseason poll behind defending regular season champion Norfolk State.
BLACK, CHILES AND HUBBARD EARN PRESEASON HONORS
Morgan State senior Justin Black was selected to the Preseason All-MEAC First Team by the conference head coaches and sports information directors. Redshirt-senior center Ian Chiles was selected to the Second Team and Anthony Hubbard to the Third Team.
BOZEMAN LOOKS FOR ANOTHER 20-WIN SEASON
For three of the last seven seasons, all as head coach, Todd Bozeman has guided teams to at least 20 victories. Bozeman set the Morgan State record for consecutive 20-win campaigns in 2007-08 with a 22-11 record and extended it with a 23-12 campaign in 2008-09, followed by a Division I school record 27-11 record in 2009-10. The previous record was back-to-back 20-win seasons under coach Nathaniel Frazier when he guided the Bears to a 20-8 record in 1972-73, followed by 28-5 in 1973-74.
JB PRODUCTION
Senior guard Justin Black has been one of the most consistent players for Todd Bozeman‘s Bears. last season, the 6-foot-2 guard, was among the MEAC’s leading scorers (14.2 ppg – No. 5) and scored double-figures 24 of 32 games, including 18 of the last 22 contests. The Dunbar HS product scored 20 or more points eight times last season, and posted a season-high 23 points at Coppin State on Feb. 9, 2013. Black will enter the San Diego contest fresh off a career-high 28-point (10-17 FG) performance at Towson.
UP NEXT
The Bears will host the Ohio University at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30 at Hill Field House.
The 2013-2014 basketball tickets are now available for sale at all Ticketmaster locations, the MSU box office, and Murphy Fine Arts box office.
The post Morgan faces San Diego in hope opener Thursday night appeared first on We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports.