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Game 6
Opponent: San Francisco Dons (5-0)
Date: Monday, November 22, 2021
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center, San Francisco, Calif.
Game Time: 9 p.m. EST
Live Stats: here /Live Stream: here
MSU Coaches: MSU -Kevin Broadus (68-52, 3rd yr) • USF - Todd Golden (27-12, 2nd yr)
Websites: www.MorganStateBears.com | www.usfdons.com
SETTING THE STAGE
• The Morgan men's basketball team (2-3) will look to wrap-up their west coast swing when they face the San Francisco Dons (5-0) on Monday night inside War Memorial at the Sobrato Center. The Bears are coming off a 74-63 loss at Portland, while the Dons were able to come from behind to defeat Nevada 73-70 on Thursday . The game versus USF (3-1) marks the second meeting between the schools. The Dons posted an 87-74 home victory versus Morgan back on Jan. 3, 2012.
• The contest will be streamed live on the WCC Network (wccsports.com).
• De'Torrion Ware, a junior from Hopkinsville Ky., was named the preseason MEAC Player of the Year ... he finished the 2020-21 season as the Bears leader in scoring with 375 points (17.0 ppg; No. 1 in MEAC) and was second on the team in rebounding with 125 (5.7 avg; No. 7) ... He ranked among the league leaders in three-point field goals made with 54 (T-No. 1) and his .388 three-point field goal percentage ranked eighth.
• Senior guard Sherwyn Devonish averaged 8.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 29.5 minutes per contest in his third season as the Bears starting point guard ... He shot 50 percent from the floor, 40.2 percent from 3-point range and 81.6 percent from the charity stripe and led the team in assists with 3.6 assists per game (T-No. 8 in MEAC).
• Lagio Grantsaan averaged 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds last season ... He ranked No. 2 in the league in field goal shooting percentage (.530) and ranked No. 7 from beyond the arc where he shot 39.1 percent ...The 6-8 forward also had 33 assists, 18 steals and 4 blocks.
• Senior guard Malik Miller, a second-team selection at the end of the year, was Morgan's third leading scorer, averaging 12.1 points per game ... he ranked among the league leaders in a number of categories: 8.0 rebounds (No. 2), 2.0 steals (No. 3) and ranked No. 5 in the league shooting 51.0 percent from the field.
• A couple of transfers could make an impact. Seventh Woods, who played at North Carolina from 2016-2019 and South Carolina from 2020-2021. The 6-foot-2, 184-pound guard won a national championship with the Tar Heels in 2017. The Bears also brought in Keith McGee (New Mexico), Myles Douglas (St. Joseph's), Collin Nnamene (Mount St. Mary's) and Ty Horner (North Dakota State Sciences).
• Last season, the MEAC split into Northern and Southern Divisions for basketball, and teams played conference games exclusively within their division.
THE SERIES
Monday's contest will mark the second matchup between the schools.
• USF recorded an 87-74 home victory against the Bears on January 3, 2012 at War Memorial Gym ... Perris Blackwell and Angelo Caloiaro led the way for San Francisco scoring 19 points ... Ameer Ali led the way for the Bears with a game-high 21 points ... Aric Brooks had 10 points and DeWayne Jackson finished with nine points and six rebounds.
BAXTER GONE
The Bears will look to offset the loss of graduated Troy Baxter, who completed the MEAC regular season by averaging 17.1 ppg (No. 1 in MEAC), 4.8 rpg and shot 44.5 percent from the field and 36.7 from the three
• He was named to the 2021 All-MEAC First Team and All-Defensive Team and was named the MEAC Male Student-Athlete of the Year.
• He was also named NABC All-District Second Team and BoxToRow Second Team All-American.
• Baxter won the 2021 Great Clips College Slam Dunk championship back in April.
• He was signed as an undrafted free agent in October by the NBA's Chicago Bulls.
SCOUTING THE DONS
Tom Golden enters his second season as USF's head coach ... Prior to being named the Dons' head coach, Golden spent the previous three seasons as the associate head coach under former head coach Kyle Smith.
• Jamaree Bouyea (Seaside, Calif.) is one of four players averaging double-figures for the Dons (4-0). Bouyee (6-2, 170) is averaging 18.6 points and 5.2 rebounds thru five games ... He was named to the 2021-22 Lou Henson National Player of the Year Watch List.
• Redshirt senior guard Khalil Shabazz (Seattle, Wash.) is contributing 12.2 points and 3.4 rebounds, Yauhen Massalski (Minsk, Belarus) is adding 10.8 points and 5.6 rebounds.
• Gabe Stefanini (Bologna, Italy) is chipping in 13.6 points.
• The Dons are currently 4-0 inside the Sobrato Center and 5-0 overall.
• USF is averaging 81 points per game and have limited opponents to an average of 65 points and 42.3 percent shooting.
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE BEARS
• Nov 20, 2021 -- Tyler Robertson finished with 22 points, five rebounds and eight assists to lead Portland past Morgan State 74-63 Saturday night at the Chiles Center. The Pilots extended their winning streak to four games, while the Bears lost for the third time in a row.
• Keith McGee and Lagio Grantsaan scored 14 apiece to lead the Bears (2-3). Sherwyn Devonish added in eight points, seven rebounds and four assists.
• Portland was solid defensively all night, limiting Morgan State to 36 percent shooting from the field. The Pilots maintained a double-digit lead for most of the second half as Robertson opened the period with back-to-back three-pointers.
• Portland shot 48 percent for the game and made 17-of-20 free throws. The Pilots also gained a 41-31 edge on the glass.
• Robertson led the way early with 10 first half points. Portland led by as much as 11 points late in the period, spurred by three straight baskets from Matheus Silveira, and took a 33-25 lead into the halftime locker room.
CHRIS PAUL HBCU CHALLENGE
The Bears early schedule includes playing eight of nine games away from Hill Field House, highlighting that stretch is back-to-back games in the Chris Paul HBCU Challenge in Phoenix, where the Bears will meet Grambling State (Nov. 28) and Hampton (Nov. 29).
• The first-of-its-kind event for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will be played at the Footprint Center (Home of the Phoenix Suns) and air on ESPN Networks.
• The two-day doubleheader will feature the likes of Norfolk State University, Morgan State University, Hampton University and Grambling State University.
NBA HBCU CLASSIC
The NBA today announced an extension of its ongoing commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with new programs designed to create greater opportunity for students and alumni, encourage economic advancement and further celebrate their rich traditions.
• The celebrations will be highlighted by a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) matchup between Howard University and Morgan State University men's basketball teams. The game will be played at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland on February 19, 2022 and will be broadcast live.
• The NBA 2K League will host events on HBCU campuses to introduce students to careers in gaming and esports, creating pathways for students to pursue careers in the growing industry.
• As part of this partnership, the NBA will develop new programs and events focused on the HBCU community – specifically around professional development, career advancement and increased support and awareness for HBCU athletics and institutions.
• "Chris Paul has shown unwavering support for HBCUs and brought an awareness to creating opportunities for the student-athletes at these institutions," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. "The Hall of Fame is proud to share in Chris's vision and bring this event to life alongside Boost Mobile and the Phoenix Suns."
OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
• The Bears are currently averaging 88.0 points thru its first five games.
• Morgan exploded for 118 points in its 2021-22 season opener versus St. Mary's College of Maryland and followed it up with a 126-71 win against Penn State Allegheny.
• Morgan led the MEAC in scoring by averaging 79.8 points thru 22 games of the 2020-21 season.
• They scored a season-high 102 in a home win vs. Lincoln-Pa. (Dec. 1, 2020).
• The Bears shot 43.3 percent from the field (ranked No. 3) and 34.3 percent from beyond the arc (No. 2).
• MSU also led the MEAC in offensive rebounding (39.7 avg).
AT THE CHARITY LINE
The Bears' returning team includes six players who shot 70 percent or better from the free throw line.
• Morgan has converted 66.4 percent (75-113) from the stripe thru the first five games.
• Last season, Morgan State shot 73.9 percent (369-499; ranked No. 1 in MEAC) from the stripe, led by De'Torrion Ware who shot 83.2 percent (84-101; ranked No. 5 in MEAC) and Malik Miller 71.6 percent (58-81; ranked No. 10).
BEAR D
Morgan has started off the 2021-22 campaign by holding its opponents to 76.6 points per game and 43.6 percent shooting from the field.
• The Bears defense was ranked among the conference leaders a season ago and should once again be solid defensively for 2021-22 season.
• The Bears ranked No. 3 in the MEAC in field goal percentage defense at 42.2 percent.
• The Bears ranked No. 2 in the MEAC in three-point field goal percentage defense at 30.6 percent.
• MSU led the league in rebounding (+3.7) and ranked No. 2 in rebounding defense (36.0).
• MSU recorded 82 blocked shots (No. 2).
• The Bears ranked No. 5 in the MEAC in scoring defense holding opponents to 73.0 points per game.
NON-CONFERENCE RECAP
Morgan State went 7-3 in non-conference play, the most non-conference wins since a 2019-20 season in which the Bears held a 6-9 non-conference mark. Prior to that, MSU had not won at least seven non-conference games since the 2012-13 season (7-9).
• Last season, MSU went 2-2 at home, 3-0 in road games and 2-1 in neutral site games.
AT THE HELM
• Kevin Broadus enters his third year at the helm as Morgan State's 16th head coach of the men's basketball program effective May 1, 2019.
• In Broadus' debut season, Morgan State went 15-16, its largest victory total since 2013-14. Then last year, in the midst of a pandemic, the Bears produced a 14-8 mark --- their best winning percentage since going 27-10 and making the NCAA tournament in 2009-10.
• Prior to Morgan, Broadus worked at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he has been one of the nation's best recruiters as the top assistant on Mark Turgeon's coaching staff. Broadus was influential in the successful NCAA tournament run for the Terps.
• Consistently ranked in the top 20 nationally for recruiting, Broadus was instrumental in signing a number of local Baltimore talents such as DeJuan Summers, Brandon Herbert, LaFonta Johnson, and Henry Sims.
WHO'S OUT
Troy Baxter (Tallahassee, Fla.), Victor Okafor (Greenbelt, Md.), Sharone Wright (Macon, Ga.),and Jamar Brown (Harlem, N.Y.) wrapped up their collegiate careers last spring.
WHO'S BACK
The Bears return four starters from last year's team, bringing back guards Sherwyn Devonish, Malik Miller, Trevor Moore and forward Lagio Grantsaan. MSU also returns guards De'Torrion Ware, Isaiah Burke, Naseem Khaalid, Thai're Vance, Elijah Bowens along with forward Chad Venning.
WHO'S IN
The Bears have added several newcomers to the 2021-22 roster: G Seventh Woods, G Will Thomas, G Keith McGee, F Ty Horner, F Collin Nnamene and F Myles Douglas.
RETURNING PRODUCTION NUMBERS
Morgan State returns 72.4 percent of its scoring, 63.7 percent of its rebounding and 70.4 percent of its minutes played totals from last year's team. The team leaders in field goal percentage (De'Torrion Ware - .425), three-point percentage (De'Torrion Ware, .384), free throw percentage (De'Torrion Ware, .832), rebounding (Malik Miller - 8.0 rpg), assists (Sherwyn Devonish, 3.6), steals (Malik Miller, 2.0), blocked shots (Malik Miller, 0.9). and minutes played (Sherwyn Devonish, 29.5). Four (4) players who started in at least five (5) games a year ago also return - Devonish (22), Miller (22), Lagio Grantsaan (21 ), and Trevor Moore (20).
HOME GROWN
Morgan State has seven players from the DMV (D.C., Maryland & Metropolitan-D.C.) area. Senior guard Sherwyn Devonish is from Bladensburg, Md. and graduated from Wise HS. Senior guard Isaiah Burke is from Annapolis and was a prep standout at Bowie HS, while senior guard Malik Miller hails from Washington, D.C. and played at Friendship Tech Prep. Senior forward Myles Douglas is from Edgewood, Md. and was a standout at Aberdeen HS. Sophomore guard Will Thomas is from Baltiomore and played at Mervo HS. Junior guard Thai're Vance is a product of Silver Spring, Md. and played at DeMatha Catholic HS.
BROADUS' STAFF
Morgan State head basketball coach Kevin Broadus' coaching staff enters their third season. The Bears coaching staff consists of assistant coaches Brian Merritt, Chretien Lukusa and Kevin Jones.
• Merritt enters his third season on the Bears staff after serving the last two seasons as the Coordinator of Basketball Operations at LSU. Merritt, a native of St. Mary's County, Maryland, joined LSU prior to the 2017-18 season after serving as Director of Scouting/Recruiting for John Lucas Enterprises.
• Lukusa enters his third season at Morgan State and was previously spent five years on Binghamton's staff, including a pair of seasons on the coaching side. A 2011 Binghamton graduate who also earned his master's degree at the University, Lukusa returned to the program in 2014. After serving two seasons as the coordinator of player development, Lukusa earned a promotion to assistant coach in Summer 2016.
• Jones, who is also in his third season at MSU, was previously the assistant director of basketball operations and video coordinator at Radford University (2018-19) where he oversaw all things video and technology. Prior to Radford, Jones was an assistant coach at Norfolk State (2015-18) where he helped guide the Spartans to back-to-back second-place finishes in the MEAC and coached three All-MEAC guards.
THE SCHEDULE
The season begins with back-to-back home games against St. Mary's (Md.) and Penn State Allegheny the first week of the season before playing eight of the next nine away from Hill Field House. The highlight of that stretch is back-to-back games in the Chris Paul HBCU Challenge in Phoenix, where the Bears will meet Grambling State (Nov. 28) and Hampton (Nov. 29).
• Morgan State's only trips to play power conference opponents come around the holidays, with a Dec. 23 trek to Wisconsin and a visit to Kansas State six days later. From there, it's the 14-game MEAC schedule, starting with a Jan. 8 trip to North Carolina Central.
• The Bears play crosstown rival Coppin State at home on Jan. 15, beginning a stretch of seven out of 11 games at home. After the Feb. 28 home finale against Maryland-Eastern Shore, Morgan closes the regular season at Coppin State on March before starting MEAC tournament play the following week in Norfolk, Va.
PREDICTED TO FINISH SECOND IN THE MEAC
The Bears were picked second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's preseason poll, their second consecutive season of being projected to finish in second place.
• The 2021-22 Bears earned 99 total points in the voting, while claiming three of the 16 first-place votes. Norfolk State claimed 10 first place votes and 119 points total as the defending MEAC champions. North Carolina Central (93 pts) was selected third, followed by Coppin State (89 pts), Howard (70 pts) and Delaware State (43 pts). South Carolina State (39 pts) and Maryland Eastern Shore (24 pts) rounded out the league's predicted order of finish.
• With the second-place selection, the Bears also earned an unprecedented five selections on the preseason all-MEAC squad as the quintet of De'Torrion Ware, Malik Miller, Lagio Grantsaan, Sherwyn Devonish., and Trevor Moore were all named.
• In addition, Ware was selected as the league's Preseason Player of the Year – he becomes just the third Bear to ever be selected for the preseason honor, joining Phillip Carr (2017) and Kevin Thompson (2010). Reggie Holmes is the last Bears to win the regular-season award, when he received the award in 2009.
• It is the biggest contingent of Bears on the preseason team since 2013-14 as the Bears had Justin Black, Ian Chiles and Anthony Hubbard on the roster.
• The selections are well-earned – the Bears reached the MEAC tournament finals last season for the first time since 2014 and has one of the most experienced squads in program history coming back for this campaign. The Bears look primed to make a run for the MEAC title this season and try to raise the 6th regular-season and 4thtournament championship banners in the Hill Field House.
• The 2022 MEAC Basketball Tournament tips off March 9-12 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. For more information about the MEAC and its sponsored sports, log on to www.MEACSports.com.
HOW TO WATCH GAMES: All men's and women's basketball home games will be video streamed for free through the MorganStateBears.com website. The latest broadcast and video stream information will always be listed on men's and women's basketball schedule pages at MorganStateBears.com.
MEN'S & WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RADIO: All home games and select away games for MSU men's and women's basketball will once again be available through Heritage Sports Radio Network (HSRN.com). Lamont Germany will handle play-by-play responsibilities and will also host pre-game and post-game shows. Including exclusive interviews with members of the teams and women's coach Ed Davis and men's coach Kevin Broadus. Fans can download the HSRN app for free and listen to the MSU broadcasts from anywhere. Simply search for HSRN when using the iHeartRadio app.
FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE
There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go:
• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more.
• Follow us on social media:
Facebook: /MorganStateBears
Twitter: @MorganStBears
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.