Morgan State men’s basketball’s 85-82 loss to Norfolk State on Feb. 26 swung back and forth like a pendulum, as 20 ties and 16 lead changes would suggest.
However, the Bears were simply out-executed in crunch time. A 3-pointer by sophomore guard Rob Lawson put Morgan ahead, 78-75, with 5:28 to play. The Bears went scoreless in four-plus minutes after that, missing four 3-pointers and turning the ball over twice en route to an 84-78 deficit.
Morgan eventually had a chance to send the game to overtime, but it needed to convert a sideline out-of-bounds play down three with 13.8 seconds left in regulation. Bears head coach Kevin Broadus drew up a quick three-man weave designed to get veteran guard Kam Hobbs a shot, but his long 3-pointer fell short and that was that.
Morgan did not make a shot in the final 5:28, with their only points coming from the line. The Bears had put forth a quality offensive effort to that point, including a 48-point first half in which they shot 64 percent from the floor, moved without the ball and shared the ball. Five players finished the game in double figures.
Crunch time, though, featured too much individual play.
“When we’re playing team basketball, we’re pretty damn good. I mean, we had 13 assists. We’ve got to hang our hat on sharing the game,” Broadus said. “We got selfish at the end because guys want to be the hero. Once you pass the ball and your teammate scores, everyone’s the hero, so we’ve got to get away from being selfish sometimes and get out of our own way.”
The loss dropped Morgan to 9-18 overall and 5-6 in the MEAC, good for sixth in the league. The Bears close out the regular season with home games against South Carolina State (March 2), North Carolina Central (March 4) and Coppin State (March 7). The MEAC tournament takes place at Norfolk State from March 13-16.
Broadus is confident his team will play winning basketball for the home fans soon.
“We’re going to turn this corner again. We’re going to turn it, trust me. We’re going to turn this corner,” Broadus said. “… Trust me, we’re going to win Saturday for y’all. We’re going to win for these students Saturday.”
WEAPON EMERGING FOR RETRIEVERS: UMBC guards Dion Brown (19.0 points, 7.6 rebounds per game) and Marcus Banks Jr. (14.6, 3.6) have formed one of the best duos in the America East, but a new option might be emerging for the Retrievers in sophomore wing Regimantas Ciunys.
Ciunys played in just seven games as a freshman in 2022-23 and didn’t see consistent playing time through January of this season. But the 6-foot-6, 190-pound wing out of Lithuania has played 16 or more minutes in all seven of the Retrievers’ games in February, highlighted by a 22-point effort against UAlbany on Feb. 17.
UMBC head coach Jim Ferry is pleased with how Ciunys worked behind the scenes to get better while waiting for an opportunity.
“He’s never once pouted. He’s never once complained. He’s been a great teammate,” said Ferry, whose team is 10-19 overall and 5-9 in the America East. “If that isn’t a message for kids nowadays and just our society in general, everybody wants instant coffee and if it’s not about me, they pout. This kid, not one second.”
Ciunys is averaging 10.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest in February. Ferry and Ciunys credited assistant coach Brian Baudinet for working with the wing every day.
“I feel like I’m trying to play more off the other guys, just help them out,” Ciunys said. “Go out there aggressive, bring in energy, rebound for them, just try to bring energy. Coach Brian Baudinet told me that I have to play like Tasmanian Devil, so that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Ferry couldn’t help but correct the sophomore.
“The Lithuanian Devil,” the coach joked.
UNEXPECTED BOOST FOR MIDSHIPMEN: Navy snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 69-62 win at Loyola on Feb. 21 due in no small part to the work of sophomore center Aidan Kehoe, who played a career-high 30 minutes after junior big man Mitch Fischer got into early foul trouble.
Kehoe, who is averaging 2.1 points per game, scored a career-high 11 points on 5 of 6 shooting to give the Mids a much-needed lift.
“He was sealing and doing the things we’ve asked him to do for a while,” said Navy head coach Ed DeChellis, who gave Kehoe his first career start one game later against Holy Cross on Feb. 25. “He made his shots. He made some easy shots. They were 2-foot shots. That was nice to see. I’m happy for him. I’m just happy for him. He’s worked hard at it. He’s had some success, so I’m hoping that helps his confidence and he continues. We need somebody inside to do some things in that regard.”
It was easy to recognize what the 6-foot-10, 235-pound center was doing on the floor, but Kehoe stood out in his No. 99 jersey, too. Last June, the NCAA announced that players could wear numbers 0 through 99. Previously, only digits 0 through 5 could be worn.
“Last year I was 55 and then they made the rule change and the new biggest number was 99,” Kehoe said. “I like to say I’m a unique guy, and I’m a big guy and wanted the biggest number so here we are.”
See Also:
• Towson Men’s Basketball Has Work To Do For CAA Tournament Double Bye
Photo Credit: Courtesy of MSU Athletics