Spokesman

Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Stephen Jones

With the closing of the season in their rear view mirror and the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament steadily approaching, the Morgan State Men's team seems to have their destinies within their own hands.
Finishing the season on high riding an unblemished mark at home into the final two games of the season, the Bears have otherwise dominated opponents throughout the season when it has come to conference play. 
Somehow the Bears found a way to win when it comes to close games, something that was largely a problem early on in the season, dropping dramatic games to teams as mighty as University of Connecticut and University of Miami.  Especially as it has counted in these later games, the Bears reeled off win after win inside of Hill Field House where it has become a pit of despair for visiting teams, where the Bears have not lost a regular season game to an opponent since last February.
Large credit to the Bears' success continues to be their defense, which is ranked within the top 50 in the nation in scoring defense (opponents average 62.2 points per game), tied for 29th in blocked shots per game (5.0), and is ranked 35th in the nation in rebound margin for the season (5.1).
The core of the team has resoundingly found ways to stay healthy throughout the remainder of the season.  Boubacar Coly, who has come accustomed to the title of Defensive Player of the Week-earning it 8 times this season- continues his success on both sides of the floor, racking up points in the paint, as well as taking down rebounds and denying potential scorers with blocked shots.  Coly is ranked within the top ten when it comes to rebounds per game (11.1) and within the top 20 for blocked shots per game (2.7), in the nation.
With Coly locking down the center of the court, the rest of the team is able to run wild offensively, although they are no slouches themselves on the defensive side.  Top scorers Jamar Smith, Marquise Katley, and Reggie Holmes were consistent throughout the season in finding ways to put the ball through the hoop and that success should continue into the tournament.  With the final emergence of Jerrell Green as the consummate point man for the Bears, the men look to be unstoppable.
The spark is still there for the Bears who are still riding high off their momentum gained through their eight-game winning streak, even though they fell short of a victory in a crushing overtime lose to Florida A&M (89-90).
Taking a peak into the possible conference opponents, there are very few threats to Morgan's campaign for Conference Champion.  The two most dangerous teams this time around would have to be FAMU and Norfolk State, both teams who have scrapped hard with the Bears this season, who have won by as large a margin against the Bears as only two points.  Should the Bears have to face either opponent, they would need to demoralize the other team and put the game out of reach early, or else put their hopes at severe risk.
Raleigh, North Carolina is the next stop for the ranked number 21 Bears (amongst Mid-Majors), where they pit there best against the best in the MEAC.  Should they get through all comers in the conference, the Bears will once again have a large challenge on their hands, the NCAA Tournament.

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