Feb. 8, 2010

Final Stats   Updated 24-game B-CU Stats/Scores (14-10, 6-4 MEAC)

Contact B-CU SID Mark Johnson (386) 481-2206 -

Baltimore, Maryland -
MEAC leader Morgan State needed all 40 minutes including a wild finish to the buzzer, edging the Wildcats 48-47 in snowy Baltimore Monday night.

The Bears (10-0 in the MEAC, 18-7 overall) held on for the one point win as B-CU's C.J. Reed's lane jumper went in and out in the final five seconds and Albert Abrahams' put back shot rimmed out and MSU survived the upset bid.

"I didn't want to extend the game and play overtime and we were going to win it on the last shot," said B-CU Coach Cliff Reed. "We had our best player taking the last shot and we were in the position we wanted to be."

Morgan State's Troy Smith hit two free throws with 37 seconds left to give the Bears a 48-47 lead. Then B-CU held the ball for the final shot with Reed dribbling at the top of the key and waiting to go for the final shot. "We were right where we wanted to be," said Coach Reed.

 "If we could get in this opportunity again, we would take it. It was an even played game and we didn't want them to get out in transition. And we did that and our effort was good. We didn't shoot as well as we would have liked," (34 %) 16-47 field goals.

Second Half Features 7 Ties - Wild Finish

The Bears led at halftime 24-19 and B-CU came back to take the lead midway through the second half - and led by as many as four points twice (the last time 42-38 with 4:34 left). Morgan State came back to take the lead by two, 46-44 on a layup by Joe Davis with 1:21 left.

C. J. Reed scored a game-high 15 points to pace the Wildcats (14-10, 6-4 MEAC). Thomas scored 10 points in 21 minutes played and Albert Abrahams scored nine points and  six rebounds. Stanley Elliott led the Wildcats with eight rebounds.  Kevin Thompson scored 12 points and nine rebounds to lead the defending MEAC champions Monday night.

MSU's Holmes 5th Leading NCAA Scorer Limited to Six Points

Bethune-Cookman's defense held the NCAA's 5th leading scorer (22.5 points per game) Reggie Holmes to six points in the contest. MSU and B-CU both shot sub-par 34 % in the game (both teams were 16-47 field goals). Holmes was 2-12 field goals and 1-6 free throws.

B-CU is next at Delaware State Saturday in Dover and at UMES next Monday, February 15 in MEAC play.