Dover, Del. (Feb. 17, 2010) --- MEAC leader Morgan State moved a big step closer to its third straight regular season league title after a 68-65 win over second place Delaware State in a thriller at Memorial Hall.
The Hornets, who trailed by 11 in the second half, missed a desperation three-point shot just before the final buzzer.
The Bears won for the 12th time in 13 games to improve to 20-8 overall and 11-1 in the MEAC. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Hornets, who fell to 14-10 and 9-4. Morgan State increased its lead over Delaware State to two-and-half games in the MEAC standings. The Bears have four league games remaining, while the Hornets have three.
Reggie Holmes led three Morgan State players in double figures with 17 points. Kevin Thompson had 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Sean Thomas added 10 points for the Bears.
Jay Threatt had a career-high 14 points to lead Delaware State. He was perfect on three attempts from three-point territory, and also led all players with five assists. Marcus Neal and Marques Oliver had 12 points each, while Frisco Sandidge chipped in 10 for the Hornets.
Morgan State led 30-26 at the half, and opened up a 48-37 lead on a three-pointer by Holmes with 10:32 left to play.
The Bears led 53-42 before the Hornets started their comeback.
Delaware State scored 19 of the next 27 points, and tied the score at 61 on a free throw by Threatt with 2:13 left in the game. Sandidge had six points, while Threatt Neal and Neal tallied four each during the DSU spurt.
Morgan State regained the lead, 63-61, on a base line jumper by Troy Smith with 1:21 remaining. After a Delaware State turnover, Holmes nailed a jumper with 40 seconds left to give the Bears a 65-61 lead.
Neal hit a basket on Delaware State's next possession to pull the Hornets to within 65-63, but Smith gave the Bears a four-point lead again after two free throws with 27 ticks on the clock.
Threatt was fouled on Delaware State's next possession, and hit two at the line to cut the Bears' lead to 67-65 with 19 seconds left.
Morgan's Sean Thomas hit one of two free throws to give his team a 68-65 lead with 12.7 seconds left, giving the Hornets a chance to tie the game with a three-pointer.
Delaware State's inbounds pass went to Oliver beyond the three-point line, but the freshman forward misfired on a desperation shot with 1.9 seconds left.
Morgan State was 25-for-51 from the field (49.0%), while the Hornets were 20-of-55 (36.4%).
The Bears also held a big advantage on the boards, outrebounding the Hornets 41-25.
The Hornets return to action Monday at home against Coppin State, while Morgan will visit Murray State in the ESPN "Bracket Busters" this Saturday.
