Ali Leads Morgan State Over SC State 73-68

Senior forward Omar Sanders recorded the games only double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Box Score ORANGEBURG, SC —Senior guard Brandon Riley poured in a game-high 26 points and grabbed seven rebounds, but Morgan State's frontcourt play proved to be too much down the stretch holding on to defeat the Bulldogs 73-68 at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center Saturday.
      Morgan State had four players in double-figures with senior forward Ameer Ali leading with way with 19 points and six rebounds, senior center Kevin Thompson was second with 17 points and six rebounds, while junior forward DeWayne Jackson added 14 in the victory.
       “The one thing I told our guys is that we are very close to putting things together,” said SC State head coach Tim Carter. “They outscored us in the paint 32-20 and they proved to hurt us down the stretch.”
       Morgan State jumped out to a quick 12 point lead, 23-11 off a foul and layup by Ameer Ali at the 9:22 mark. Riley nailed a 3-pointer with 2:38 left in the first-half to cut the lead to seven, 35-28. Ali tossed in a pair of free-throws with 0:23 seconds left to push the Bears lead to nine, 30-39.
         Morgan State closed out the first-half with a 30-39 lead over SC State. Ameer Ali tossed in a game-high 15 points in the first-half for the Bears, while Brandon Riley led the Bulldogs with 11 at the half.
         Riley hit a jumper pulling the Bulldogs within one, 53-52 late in the second-half with 9:42 left in the game. The frontcourt of Morgan State proved to be the difference th down the stretch for Morgan State as All-MEAC center Kevin Thompson powers in a layup with less than 3:07 left in regulation to give MSU a six point lead, 61-67.
         Senior forward Omar Sanders tossed in a pair of free-throws with 0:06 seconds left to pull the Bulldogs within five, 73-58. Morgan State held on to defeat SC State 73-68. Sanders recorded the only double-double in the game with 13 points and 14 rebounds, while senior forward Joe Ikhinmwin added 11 in the loss.
         Red-shirt sophomore Ian Chiles added 10 points and eight rebounds for Morgan State in the victory.
         SC State will return to action on Monday when they host Coppin State in a pivotal Mid-Eastern Athletic showdown. Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm., following the women's game.
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