The Morgan State men’s basketball team will compete in their second game of a three-game road stretch against the South Carolina State Bulldogs Saturday at 4 p.m.

This three-game road stretch serves as a representation of what the Bears will face in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)  tournament. They will have to win three games in a row to win the tournament at the Norfolk Scope Arena.

“We’re going to be away from home for three games in a row, so this will definitely prepare us for the MEAC,” said junior guard Kamron Hobbs.

But so far this season, the Bears have played significantly worse on the road, holding a record of 1-10. Hobbs himself shoots 54.3% from three-point range at home but shoots 25.6% from behind the arc on the road.

“Only thing [we need to focus on] is the consistency from shooting from the three,” Hobbs said when asked where he and the team need to improve. “I feel like just because it’s a new rim, new court, we gotta get accustomed to the crowd yelling at us and just be able to shoot and be consistent.”

Though tensions are high on the court, Hobbs has a strategy that helps him relax before away games. 

“Personally, my ritual on the road is to take a shower before the games,” Hobbs said. “That helps me calm down and feel better.”

Junior forward Will Thomas said his energy is affected when he sees his team losing on the road.

“Defensively we need to rebound better and close out on shooters because a lot of teams have been hitting a lot of threes against us,” Thomas said. 

This season, the Bears have allowed opponents to make 336 three-pointers and grab 788 rebounds.

The team acknowledges their flaws on the road, but Bears head coach Kevin Broadus wants his team to continue the success at the free-throw line.

The Bears shoot over 70% from the free-throw on the road.

“Like they said, they are free-throws, they’re free,” Broadus said “No one is guarding you and we’re getting better. We had our moments when we were really bad at free-throw shooting, and we’re getting better, so hopefully we keep climbing in that aspect.”