BALTIMORE — The Morgan State men’s basketball team had their home opener spoiled by the Towson Tigers who handed them a 72-78 loss Tuesday night.
Morgan’s largest lead 22-15 came in the first period under eight minutes.
Six blocks, dominance on the boards on the defensive end and getting to the free throw line, was key to the Bears first half success. The Bears were 87 percent from the charity strike in the first period.
Morgan State led 30-25 at halftime.
Tiwian Kendley was Morgan’s leading scorer in the first period with 12 and Towson’s Mike Morsell lead the way with seven.
Towson stormed out to a 39-34 lead coming out of halftime. But the Bears would not quit. The two teams went basket for basket throughout the second period but the Tigers maintained the lead for the entire second period.
The Bears got within two points making it 59-57 with 7:55 to go in the second period.
Phillip Carr converted a 3-point play with 6:24 left to get Morgan State within three, 65-62, but the Bears could get no closer.
Towson’s William Adala Moto scored seven of his 19 points in the final 3:49
Morsell finished with 22 points to lead the Tigers (2-0). Adala Moto grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds. Both players were named to the preseason All-Colonial Athletic Association team.
Moto drilled a 3-pointer with 3:49 left to give Towson a 72-62 advantage and knocked down a jumper with 41 seconds left to make it 75-68 and added a pair of free throws with three seconds left to create the final score.
Kendley finished with 26 points to lead Morgan State (0-2).
Towson now has won four straight in the series that dates to the 1967-68 season and is 15-13 overall.
