Final Box
MorganStateSCStatePlay-by-Play
ORANGEBURG, SC—Sophomore guard DeWayne Jackson tossed in a team-high 17 points for Morgan State, while junior guard Brandon Riley led the way for SC State with 17 but it wasn't enough as Morgan State cruised to a 72-66 victory over the Bulldogs at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial   Center Monday.

       Sophomore guard Khalif Toombs added 11, while senior guard Tyvon Williams dished out a game-high 10 assist along with chipping in eight points in the loss.

      SC State falls to 6-19 overall, 2-10 in the MEAC, while Morgan improves to 12-10 overall, 8-2 in the league.

       “I thought we played a good game against a tough Morgan State team tonight,” said SC State head coach Tim Carter. “We had wide open shots down the stretch that just didn't go down for us when we needed them.”

      SC State jumped out to an eight point lead, 27-19 off a layup by junior forward Presano Bell at the 8:28 mark in the first-half. A layup by junior forward Ali Ameer cut the lead to three, 27-24 with 4:20 left. SC State pushed the lead to 10, 36-26 off a steal by Williams leading to a layup by Toombs.

      Brandon Riley's jumper with 0:38 seconds left in the first-half and the Bulldogs led by 10, 40-30.      Jackson would sink two free-throws to cut the margin to eight, 40-32 and closed out the half with the Bulldogs ahead.

      Carter stated, “We made some minor adjustments during the first-half that put us in a good position early in the game.”

       A 3-pointer by Justin Black and a layup Aric Brooks put the Bears ahead four, 55-59 at the 8:17 mark in   the game. Senior forward Rio Pitt powered the way along with a layup by Toombs to tie the game for the eighth time on the night, 59-59 with 6:33 left in regulation.

      Black tosses in a pair of free-throws with 0:23 seconds left to extend the lead to five, 65-70 for Morgan State. Free-throws were the deciding factor down the stretch as Morgan St. shot 72% from the charity stripe hitting 16-of-22 on the night to seal the victory.

       Morgan State out-rebounded SC State 40-26 despite a game-high 18 turnovers.

“It boils down you have to make the big plays, stated Carter. “ And when it's your time on the free-throw line you have to make the shot you can't win any game shooting 9-of-21 from the line.”

      Ali Ameer also tossed in 14, while All-MEAC center Kevin Thompson was limited to 10 points and eight rebounds on the night for Morgan State.

       SC State will return to action on Saturday when they host a tough and scrappy N.C. A&T team in an exciting MEAC doubleheader. The women's contest tips off at 4 p.m. with the men following.

                                                                                   -30-