Box Score     Baltimore, MD—James "J-Byrd" Daniel, III scored a team-high 18 points and Marcel Boyd added 17 but Morgan State parlayed a balanced scoring attack and some outstanding free throw shooting to pull away to an 83-63 win over Howard University in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Hill Field House.

    Daniel came into the game as the nation's leading scorer at 28 points per game but the Bears (4-15, 2-4 in the MEAC) were able to contain him through most of the game, limiting him to only three field goals and a season-low in points.
                 
     "Their game plan was to cut the head and it was effective," said Howard's head coach Kevin Nickelberry.  "They focused all their efforts on trapping Daniel and Marcel.  They had 13 turnovers between them so that is something we have to fix."
                 
    It was close game early as the two teams battled back and forth until the Bears began to take advantage of the Bison's foul trouble.  As Morgan State extended its lead to double digits, the Bison had little margin for error.  The Bears, who came into the game, shooting 67 percent as a team connected on 25 of 30 from the charity stripe for 83 percent in the second stanza.
    
     At one point during an eight minute stretch, Morgan State scored 21 of its 25 points from the free throw line to hold Howard at bay.
                 
     "This was one of our worst games of the year," said Nickelberry.  "They set the tone for the game from the beginning by dictating the way they wanted it played.  We became frustrated and it affected how we responded."
                 
    The Bison (10-11, 4-2 in the MEAC) added to their woes by committing a season-high 25 turnovers that Morgan State converted into 20 points. The Bison, who are undermanned, could ill afford foul trouble, but the tone was set early and it impacted he outcome.

    Boyd just missed a double double with 9 rebounds to go along with his 17 points on 7 of 9 shooting from the field.  Keon Hill came off the bench to score 10 points in 28 minutea. 

    Morgan State got 19 from Cedric Blossom, 18 from Andre Horne and 15 and 14 respectively from Raseasn Simpson and Phillip Carr.
                 
     "We just have to move on from this game and get ready for Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday," said Nickelberry.
 
    NEXT UP: The Bison play the Hawks of Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday in Princess Anne, MD.  The game will televised on ESPNU as part of the MEAC/ESPN TV package.  Tipoff is schedule for 7 pm.