Box Score
BALTIMORE, Md. – Marquise Kately's 16 points led five Morgan State players in double figures, but it was clutch plays by Jermaine Bolden and Rogers Barnes that helped clinch the Bears' 74-70 MEAC win over Norfolk State on Monday night at Hill Field House.
Preseason MEAC favorite Morgan State (8-8, 3-0 MEAC) led the final 13 minutes of the game, but could not shake the pesky Spartans (3-11, 1-2), who had their two-game win streak snapped.
Spartan swingman Corey Lyons (Bronx, N.Y.) converted a three-point play with 1:05 remaining in the game to cut the Bears' lead to 69-68, and picked up the fifth and disqualifying foul on MSU leading scorer Reggie Holmes in the process. But Bolden hit a huge 3-pointer at the other end to stretch the lead to four. After a put-back by Brandon Monroe (Raeford, N.C.) cut the Bears' lead to 72-70 with nine seconds left, Barnes hit two free throws with 6.4 seconds left to seal the win for MSU.
Lyons and Michael Deloach (Rocky Mount, N.C.) scored 21 points apiece to lead NSU, which handed the 2008 regular-season MEAC champion Bears one of their two conference losses last season.
Deloach scored eight of the Spartans' first 14 points, and Morgan State missed seven of its first 10 shots as NSU took an early seven-point lead. MSU went on a 10-0 run, including four points from Barnes, to take back the lead, and the Bears led 35-30 at the half.
There were eight lead-changes in the second half. NSU's last advantage came at 46-45 after two free throws by Lyons with 13:57 left in the game. But Holmes, who shot just 4-of-12 from the floor, scored the game's next eight points to give the Bears the lead for good, at 53-46.
Kevin Thompson added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Bears. Barnes had 12 points, Holmes 11 and Rodney Stokes 10. The Bears scored 19 points off 19 NSU turnovers.
Monroe had eight points and six rebounds for NSU. Aleek Pauline (Jamaica, N.Y.) added seven points, six rebounds and five assists.
NSU returns home for its next two games, beginning Saturday against Delaware State. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. at Echols Hall.
