The Morgan State University’s men’s basketball team lost to the Norfolk State Spartans 85-82 after a harrowing, nail-biting game Monday night at Hill Field House.

Morgan’s men’s basketball team pulled together every time the Spartans attempted to gain an advantage — closing the Spartan’s lead multiple times and pulling ahead by as much as six points in the first half and four in the second. However, the Spartans took the lead with 17 seconds left on the clock. The Bears were down three and nearly tied the game but junior guard Kamron Hobbs missed the game-tying, three-point shot.

“We were fighting all the way to the end and it was a close game,” said Bears head coach Kevin Broadus. “But at the end of the day, they ask you, ‘did you win or did you lose?’ not how close it was.”

Senior guard Wynston Tabbs finished the game with 19 points total and made three out of his four shots from beyond the arc. 

The Bears had 14 turnovers — all of which were offensive — and one happened with just three minutes left in the game, leading the Spartans to a 3-0 run. Broadus lamented Morgan’s 14 turnovers in the press conference that followed the game.

“We can’t have these mental breakdowns where we throw the ball full-court away [or] dribble the ball off our own player. We have to keep the ball moving,” Broadus said. “Once we get isolated and try to play one on one, it never works.”

The lead changed 16 times between the two teams and the score was tied 20 times. Five of Morgan’s players finished the game with 10 or more points: sophomore guard Rob Lawson (20), Tabbs (19), Hobbs (10), junior forward Will Thomas (13) and junior forward Christian Oliver (12).

The Bears are scheduled to play the South Carolina State Bulldogs at Hill Field House Saturday, March 1 at 4:30 p.m.