Issue date: 3/19/10 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Kelli Williams Morgan State loses to WVU 77-50, making the MEAC 0-4 against teams in the Big East.

Media Credit: Kelli Williams Reggie Holmes drives to the basket against Jonnie West. He finished with 12 points.

Media Credit: Kelli Williams Troy Smith walks to the bench after fouling out of the game.

BUFFALO, NY-- As the clock ran its course, finishing its inevitable decline towards zero, crowds of tearful spectators applauded their teams, one in victory, the other in saddened defeat. The Morgan State Bears (27-10) fell Friday, March 19, 2010, to the West Virginia University (WVU) Mountaineers (28-6), at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY, 77-50.

The Bears got off to a fast start, opening the game with a 10-0 run, often stifling the Mountaineers in the low post, their bread and butter. To start off the run, Captain and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year, Reggie Holmes, dropped a long 3-pointer, spurring their momentum forward.

Suffering enough of such a run, WVU Head Coach, Bob Huggins called a time out to the game to talk to his team. After this point, all momentum that was on Morgan's side had all but depleted.

"I just think we came out and didn't want to leave early. We wanted to take care of our own business," said WVU forward Kevin Jones, who finished with 17 points.

Gradually, WVU took control of the game, scratching its way to an 11-point lead by the end of the first half.

Unfortunately for Morgan, the Mountaineers had too much of a size and athletic advantage for the Bears to be able to match. Though they threw them off of their game very early on, missed shots (29.5 FG %), turnovers (12), and fouls seriously hampered any of the Bears' efforts. Instead of playing to their strengths, the Bears played into WVU's hands, forcing several shots that just didn't fall for them.

"The ball wasn't going in as much as it usually goes in for us. We just weren't hitting our shots," said Senior Troy Smith, who was still met with fanfare before fouling out of the game.

Any hopes for the Bears to win the game in the post were summarily squashed by the Mountaineers' crowd of defenders, often running the floor with as many as four forwards. Prior success in that area by forward, Kevin Thompson (9 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks), seemed a mirage, as he was defended physically thereafter.

Uncharacteristic play marred the team, throughout the roster, especially during the second half. After going for nearly 40% from the field, the Bears offense went stagnant, mustering only 15 % down the stretch.

The Bears accomplished many accolades on their journey to the NCAA Tournament; becoming Conference and Tournament Champions of the MEAC, dominating annual awards (Player, Defensive Player, Rookie, and Coach of the Year) for their stellar play, and reentering the NCAA Tournament at a respectable 15 seed. The distance between West Virginia, the number two seed in the East bracket, however was made apparent.

As more and more time ticked away, gravity set in on the Bears. There would be no second round. No more chances. That was it. Upon this realization, Morgan's Head Coach, Todd Bozeman, called a time out with about 30 seconds left in the game, taking Holmes out of the game. As Holmes, who finished with 12 points, 2 steals, and 2 rebounds, made his way toward the sideline, the crowd erupted in a chant for the school's all time leading scorer. Embracing for some time as the clock ran out, coach and player knew their time was at an end.

As Bozeman left the team hotel, earlier in the day, on his way to the team bus, he flashed the familiar peace sign to his supporters, going into this game knowing it may be their last of this season.

"Those damn 40-minute games," Bozeman said. "If we had 12 minutes, we would have won the game."

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