BALTIMORE — South Carolina State beat Morgan State 51-10 Thursday night at Hughes Stadium, but for a while it looked like the Bears might make a game of it.

Morgan State trailed 14-0 after one quarter, but eventually made a game of it. Raquane Matthews picked up a South Carolina State fumble and ran it in from 10 yards out, and Alex Amaya hit a 30-yard field goal to make it 14-10 with about five minutes left in the half.

South Carolina State answered right before halftime. Keely Watson led a seven-play, 59-yard drive and hit Troy Hillman for a 20-yard touchdown on the last play of the half. Morgan State didn’t score again.

Watson finished 27 of 36 for 279 yards and four touchdowns. He didn’t throw an interception. Martavious Collins, DJ Maultsby and Shamontae Burgess caught his other three scoring passes.

The running game took over late. Josh Shaw had already scored on the opening drive, Ronnie Robinson added a 16-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, and Kacy Fields scored from 28 yards out with 18 seconds left. Fields ran for 71 yards on 11 carries.

The Bulldogs’ defense kept Morgan State’s offense out of the end zone all night. The Bears finished with minus-12 rushing yards and 150 total yards, went 3 of 13 on third down and gave up four sacks. Cameron Edge threw for 144 yards, and Justin Perry caught five passes for 72.

South Carolina State outgained Morgan State 509-150 and scored on every one of its seven trips inside the 20.

The Bulldogs (7-2, 2-0 MEAC) have won 12 straight conference games under Chennis Berry and are going for a third straight league title. They play at Howard next Thursday.

Morgan State (5-4, 0-2) has lost three straight and goes to Delaware State on Nov. 7.