The Morgan State men’s basketball team beat the North Carolina Central Eagles 88-79 Monday night at the school’s Hill Field House. The matchup against the Eagles marked the Bears’ first win since they defeated the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks on Feb. 17.
Prior to their win this week, the team was on a four-game losing streak after their loss to the South Carolina Bulldogs on March 2. The Bears refused to speak with the press after that game, citing high emotion and frustration.
But this time around the Bears were determined to avenge their record. Both teams fought for leverage at the start of the game, resulting in the score being tied five times in the first half.
The Bears were down at halftime 35-32, however they would go on a 13-0 run to start the second half and would maintain the lead for the rest of the game.
“The [objectives] were to be unselfish, which we were. [Our goals were to] play together and play the rest of the 20 minutes,” Bears head coach Kevin Broadus said.
Amahrie Simpkins, junior guard, scored the first seven points of the game for the Bears and nabbed a layup to open the second half for the Bears. He hit a pair of free-throws that gave the team the largest lead of the game. In the end, he finished the game scoring a career high of 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
“I wasn’t really thinking about it too much,” he said. “I always go out there and play as hard as always and try to get a win, good things just came out of it.”
Junior forward Will Thomas scored 24 points and hit a jumper early in the second half, giving the Bears a one point lead. He finished the game scoring a career high of 30 points, six rebounds, two assists and shot 86% from the free-throw line.
“Will is the best scorer in the league regardless of what the stats say. When he’s locked in, it’s hard to guard him,” Broadus said. “He was in a zone tonight and no one could stop him.”
Junior forward Allen Udemadu scored a double-double, finishing the game with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard Kamron Hobbs finished the game with 16 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
Earlier this season, Broadus said that when the team rebounds they win games. Monday night, the Bears grabbed a total of 43 rebounds while the Eagles walked away with a total of 29.
“I saw [members of the Eagles’ team] quit on the other end when we kept getting rebounds,” Broadus said. “I take my hat off [to the Bears], they never stopped playing.”
The team is scheduled to play the Coppin State Eagles at Hill Field House Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
