Boxscore
ALBANY, N.Y. – Reggie Holmes scored 23 points and DeWayne Jackson’s steal and slam dunk put his team ahead in the final five minutes in leading Morgan State to a 69-65 victory over UAlbany on Friday evening at SEFCU Arena.
The win marked Morgan State's first season-opener win since dropping Lincoln (91-50) in 1988.
In a second half that featured five lead changes and four ties, UAlbany (0-2) reversed a 46-42 deficit with 11 unanswered. Tim Ambrose, a 6-foot junior who had 14 of his 21 points after the break, drew his team even with a pair of free throws. Freshman guard Mike Black followed with a driving layup and a three-point play when he was fouled while converting a fastbreak opportunity.
Ambrose’s jumper from left of the lane gave his club a 53-46 advantage with 12:30 remaining.
Morgan State (1-0) still trailed by four with less than six minutes to play, but regrouped when Holmes canned one of his three 3-point field goals after an offensive rebound. Jackson’s steal and dunk put his team ahead, 61-60, with 4:23 left.
Still leading by one, Holmes connected on a one-hander as he curled into the lane. Jackson came up with another steal and sank a 19-footer from just inside the top of the arc for a 67-62 lead with 1:32 remaining. The Great Danes were still within one possession in the closing seconds, but Jackson sealed the outcome by splitting a pair of free throws.
The Bears, who made their first NCAA appearance last year after winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship, built a 27-16 margin in the first half. Kevin Thompson, a 6-foot-8 sophomore who totaled 15 points and nine rebounds, scored on a follow shot to give his squad its biggest lead.
The Great Danes, who opened their season with a loss at No. 25 Syracuse four days earlier, came back to tie the contest at 33 apiece by halftime. Will Harris, a senior who netted 18 points, hit a bank shot in transition before Logan Aronhalt drilled his second 3-pointer of the period to close the gap to 33-31. Harris later made a jumper from the foul line that evened the score.