BALTIMORE – Ricky Johnson scored 20 points as Bethune-Cookman snapped a nine-game losing streak to Morgan State with a 65-58 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory Monday afternoon.
Delino Dear posted an 11-point, 16 rebound double-double as the Wildcats (6-13 overall, 2-3 MEAC) defeated the Bears (4-16,2-4) since posting a 52-50 victory on February 8, 2006.
Brandon Stewart also scored 11 points for the Wildcats, who completed their first sweep of a conference two-game road swing since downing Delaware State and Maryland Eastern Shore in 2012. This also gives the Wildcats their first winning streak of the season.
Morgan State closed to one point twice in the second half, the last when Zech Smith's dunk made it a 49-48 game with 6:03 remaining.
Travis Elliott's lay-up and a Dear jumper pushed the Wildcat lead back to five. Morgan State closed to 53-50 on a Donte Prelow jumper with 3:35 left.
On the next possession, Elliott secured an offensive rebound and dished out to Mikel Trapp, who connected on a three-pointer just before the shot clock expired to make it a six-point game. The Wildcats led by as many as 10 down the stretch.
Dear double-double for the second straight game as the Wildcats outrebounded the Bears 42-38.
Johnson and Stewart were a combined 15-15 from the free throw line for the Wildcats, who were 15-16 as a team in the second half and 24-27 for the game.
Johnson had 14 of his points in the first half, including the Wildcats' final five points as they pulled away from a 21-21 tie to take a 26-21 halftime lead.
Quintin Brewer scored nine points for Bethune-Cookman, while Elliott had six points, six rebounds and two assists.
Smith had 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Bears, while Cedric Blossom and Blake Bozeman added 12 apiece.
B-CU hosts UMES Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.
HEAD COACH GRAVELLE CRAIG
"We wanted to play at our pace, which helps us. We have to continue to do that. Overall, a good job and a good trip."
"Delino's been playing better the past 4 or 5 games. He wants to get better and that's the good thing.”
"That's what we want from Travis -- come in and defend. Travis makes good passes, but he shouldn't be leading us in assists. I'll take it, though."
DELINO DEAR
"I'm trying be aggressive and help my team out. Our mission was to get these two wins."
"We tried to limit their opportunity and crash the glass. We're playing more confident and playing under control. We trust in the system and trust each other."
RICKY JOHNSON
"I've never beat Morgan, so this is good. These are some big wins for us."
“Coach told us to be aggressive, so I just did whatever was asked of me.”
“Free throws win ball games. Defense wins ball games.”
[On 6-8 Travis Elliott having more assists than the guards] “Travis always said he wants to be a point guard. If that's what it takes for us to win, that's what we have to do.”
NOTES: This was Johnson's third career 20- point game ... Dear now has three double-doubles on the season and five for his career (including Toledo) ... Dear's 16 rebounds most for a B-CU player since Garrius Holloman had 16 at Hampton in 2011...B-CU 4-0 when it has 42 or more rebounds...The Wildcats have won four of their last six games played on Martin Luther King Day.
