BALTIMORE (Interstat) — In a game defined by runs and rugged interior play, the Morgan State Bears used a decisive second-half surge to pull away from the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks for a 79-71 victory in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at Hill Field House.

A crowd of 1,288 saw the Bears improve to 10-13 overall, while the Hawks fell to 8-17. The result avenged a 66-49 loss for Morgan State at Maryland-Eastern Shore just over a month ago on Jan. 3.

The contest was a tight, physical affair for the first 30 minutes, featuring 13 lead changes and eight ties. Neither team led by more than six points until the game’s critical juncture. With Morgan State holding a narrow 59-57 lead with just over seven minutes remaining, the Bears unleashed a game-defining 9-0 run over the next two minutes to seize control.

The spurt was fueled by defense and transition offense, hallmarks of Morgan State’s performance. Alfred Worrell converted a pair of free throws after drawing a foul, and after a Hawks turnover, Rob Lawson connected on a pull-up jumper. Following another Maryland-Eastern Shore miss, Worrell struck again, draining a 3-pointer off an assist from Lawson to cap the run and extend the Bears’ lead to 68-57 with 5:11 left. The Hawks never recovered, unable to cut the deficit below six points the rest of the way.

Morgan State’s efficiency proved decisive. The Bears scored 79 points on just 68 possessions, an offensive rating of 116.4, while the Hawks managed 71 points on 71 possessions for a rating of 100.0. Morgan State capitalized on its opportunities, scoring 26 fast-break points to Maryland-Eastern Shore’s 16 and converting 11 points off nine Hawks turnovers while committing only six turnovers themselves.

The Bears were led by a dominant performance from 6-foot-10 forward Marland Harris. The junior from Inglewood, California, recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, but his most impactful contribution came on the defensive end, where he swatted four shots and altered countless others. His presence in the paint was a key factor in limiting the Hawks to 39.7% shooting from the field.

Harris was complemented by a game-high 24 points from guard Alfred Worrell of Washington, D.C., who also had three steals. Point guard Elijah Davis of Severn, Maryland, orchestrated the offense with nine assists to go with 11 points and eight rebounds, narrowly missing a triple-double. Christian Meeks added 10 points and six rebounds off the bench.

For Maryland-Eastern Shore, the frontcourt duo of Zion Obanla and Dorion Staples provided consistent production. Obanla, a 6-foot-8 forward from Houston, posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Staples, a 6-foot-8 forward from Fredericksburg, Virginia, led the Hawks with 16 points and six rebounds. Guard Michael Teal of Alexandria, Virginia, also scored 16 points, while Jaden Cooper added 13.

The first half was a back-and-forth struggle, with Morgan State taking a slim 39-38 lead into the break. The Hawks stayed close by attacking the basket, scoring 38 of their 71 points in the paint and making 18 of 21 free throws. However, their inability to connect from the perimeter — they shot just 3 of 17 from 3-point range — ultimately hampered their comeback efforts in the final minutes.

Morgan State’s win continued its recent positive momentum, having now won three of its last four conference games. Maryland-Eastern Shore, meanwhile, dropped its third straight contest.

The Bears will look to build on the victory when they travel to face South Carolina State next Saturday. The Hawks will try to snap their skid the same day on the road at Howard.