Morgan State University (MSU) junior forward Dewayne Jackson scored a career-high 33 points, but the Bears blew a 17-point second half lead and fell to the Norfolk State University Spartans, 90-89, in double overtime on Jan. 14 at Hill Field House in Baltimore.
Morgan had to play both overtime periods without Jackson; the Bowie, Md. native fouled out in regulation after scoring 20 points in the first half and 13 points in the second. The Bears instead leaned on senior forwards Kevin Thompson and Aric Brooks, who each scored eight points. But Morgan missed three shots in the final 27 seconds of the game that gave the victory to Norfolk State.
“We’ve been battling. This is the kind of game we’ve been having all season,” said Morgan State interim coach Kevin McClain. McClain is sitting in for Todd Bozeman, who was suspended while Morgan investigates allegations of him physically assaulting one of his players. “That kind of game we didn’t need. We definitely needed a win.”
Norfolk State was led by senior center Kyle O’Quinn with 25 points. O’Quinn helped Norfolk State overcome the 17-point deficit in the second half for the comeback victory, keeping their record perfect against the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The Spartans remained atop the conference with a 13-5 overall record, 5-0 MEAC, while the Bears fell to to 3-11 overall, 1-2 MEAC.
MSU will take on another MEAC opponent, Hampton University, on Jan. 16 at Hill Field House.