Morgan State nips Liberty 51-50 with late hoop
CANCUN, Mexico – Cedric Blossom scored 20 points and Donte Pretlow hit the game-winner with 3 seconds left as Morgan State edged Liberty 51-50 on Wednesday for third place in the Mayan Division of the Cancun Challenge.
Morgan State (1-5) led 25-23 at halftime but Liberty (2-4) stayed close after erasing an eight-point deficit.
David Andoh’s jumper with 50 seconds left put Liberty up 48-47, but Blossom answered with a put-back at 20 seconds to match his career high. Andrew Smith, who led Liberty with 12 points, had a dunk at 13 seconds, setting up Pretlow’s heroics.
Morgan State forced 23 turnovers but was unable to take advantage by making just 3 of 24 3-pointers (12.5 percent). The Bears shot 30 percent overall, while Liberty was at 48.6.
Smith, who hit 5 of 6 shots, also pulled down 13 rebounds for Liberty.
Zech Smith came up just shy of his first double-double of the season with nine 9 points and 9 rebounds. Blake Bozeman chipped in 7 points, while Pretlow finished with 6 assists, 6 rebounds and 6 points.
Iona has record performance against Hornets
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Iona set school records for points, assists and three-point field goals in a 126-76 demolition of Delaware State at the Hynes Center this evening.
The Gaels shot 41-for-71 from the floor (57.7%) and 24-of-39 from three-point range (61.5%). In addition, Iona had a team-record 35 assists.
Freshman guard Schadrac Casimir scored a career-high 40 points to lead four Iona players in double figures. Casimir was 11-for-13 from the field, including eight-of-nine from three-point territory. He was also 10-for-11 at the free throw line.
A.J. English added 26 points, while Isaiah Williams contributed 25 for the Gaels.
English’s performance was highlighted by six three-point field goals (6-12) and a game-high nine assists. Williams was seven-for-10 from beyond the arc.
Iona won its third straight game to improve to 4-1. Among its victories this season is an 85-81 win at Wake Forest. The Hornets dropped their third straight to fall to 2-3.
The 126 points were the most allowed by Delaware State since a 138-75 loss to Texas Christian during the 1997-98 season.
Amere May came off the bench to lead the Hornets with 18 points in his second game since returning to the team.
Kendall Gray recorded his third double-double of the season and 15th of his career with 14 points and tying his career high with 13 rebounds. Gray was six-for-nine from the field and two-of-two at the free throw line. He also had one block to bring his school record total to 228.
Tyshawn Bell added 13 points for the Hornets. Bell was five-for-eight from the floor and three-of-four from beyond the arc. He has hit 12 of his last 16 three-point shots.
Bell now has 151 three-pointers at DSU to rank seventh in team history. Emanual Davis (1988-91) is sixth with 153.
Kendall Williams had a team-high five assists for the Hornets.
For the game, DSU shot 37% from the field (27-for-73) and 30.6% from three-point territory (11-for-36).
The Hornets committed 19 turnovers in the, most caused by Iona’s full court press.
The Gaels won the rebound battle 43-38.
MEAC Media Relations
