Morgan State Basketball favored in Game 26 at South Carolina State — morgan state basketball preview
morgan state basketball returns to action Wednesday in a key MEAC matchup at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center, with tip-off scheduled for 6: 00 p. m. ET. The game matters now after Morgan State's 82–68 home win over Delaware State and South Carolina State's 90–71 road loss at Norfolk State on Feb. 21, setting up a meeting between teams with differing recent form.
Morgan State Basketball odds and projections
Betting lines list South Carolina State as the narrow favorite, with the spread at -1. 5 and an over/under of 156. 5 points. Predictive models in recent coverage diverge: one model gives South Carolina State roughly a 55% win probability, while another assigns Morgan State about a 56% chance and projects a 76–74 final score. Those mismatched projections underscore a close matchup where small swings and late-game execution could decide the result.
morgan state basketball game details
Key players shaping the matchup for Morgan State include senior guard Alfred Worrell Jr., the team's leading scorer at 17. 6 points per game while shooting 40 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range; he entered the contest coming off a 15-point effort against Delaware State. Rob Lawson has been a major spark off the bench, averaging 12. 8 points per game and logging two 20-point outings earlier in the season. Graduate guard Elijah Davis is averaging 13. 8 points and 6. 0 assists (ranked No. 22 nationally) and was named MEAC Co-Player of the Week on Feb. 23. Graduate guard Walter Peggs Jr. adds perimeter shooting and depth, averaging 8. 4 points while shooting 35 percent from three.
Bulldogs' recent form and outlook
South Carolina State enters the game under pressure after the Norfolk State loss. Sophomore guard Jayden Johnson is the Bulldogs' leading scorer at 13. 2 points per game, shooting 44 percent from the field and 37 percent from three; in the recent loss he finished with 18 points and four rebounds. Teammates contributing offensively include junior guard Owen Bronston Jr., averaging 10. 6 points, and freshman Noah Treadwell, averaging 8. 2 points. The Bulldogs sit at 7–19 overall and 5–5 in MEAC play following the setback. The program is led by a fourth-season head coach and was picked to finish third in preseason league projections, with Johnson named the league's preseason player of the year.
- Tip-off: 6: 00 p. m. ET at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center in Orangeburg, S. C.
- Spread and total: South Carolina State -1. 5; Over/Under 156. 5 points.
- Matchup pivot points: perimeter scoring from Alfred Worrell Jr. and playmaking from Elijah Davis versus Jayden Johnson's offense for the Bulldogs.
Analysis and forward look: observable indicators point to a close contest. If Morgan State's leading scorer maintains his current efficiency and Elijah Davis sustains his assist rate, the Bears can control tempo and create open shots. Conversely, if South Carolina State rebounds and limits turnovers while getting scoring from Johnson and role players, the Bulldogs' narrow favorite status in the betting lines could be vindicated. The divergent model projections and tight spread suggest the game may be decided in the final minutes; the teams' recent results and individual form will be the clearest indicators to watch as tip-off approaches.
