Dec. 8, 2005

Box Score

BALTIMORE, Md. - Navy senior guard David Hooper (Dale City, Va.) came off the bench to spark the Mids with a team-high 16 points, leading Navy (2-4) to a 73-47 victory at Morgan State (0-8) Thursday night. It was the Mids' most lop-sided victory since 29-point victory (95-66) over Washington College on Dec. 18, 2003.

The Mids struggled in the opening minutes, turning the ball over four times and missing eight shots before the first media timeout at 15:38. Following the timeout, Navy went on a 13-0 run which included an old-fashioned three-point play by senior captain Matt Fannin (Lakewood, Ohio).

Morgan State scored a bucket to snap Navy's scoring streak at 11:23 on a Frederick Lymas lay-in. The Mids, however, went on a 7-0 run over the next five minutes, to increase their lead to 20-9.

The Bears made it to 18 points by halftime, but were held scoreless for the final 2:53. Navy, on the other hand, was held scoreless from the 3:44 mark until Fannin sank a pair of free throws with 18 seconds remaining in the half to give the Mids a 28-19 lead at the break.

The Mids opened the second stanza on a 10-2 run to open up a 38-21 lead with 16 minutes to go. Navy held its largest lead of the game at 64-34 after a pair of Fannin free throws with 5:43 to play.

Four Midshipmen scored in double digits, led by Hooper's 16. Navy's sixth man, Hooper connected on five of his nine field goals, including four triples, while grabbing four rebounds. Fannin scored 15 points, including 11 from the charity stripe. He grabbed eight rebounds with seven coming off the offensive glass. Sophomore guard Greg Sprink (Cardiff, Calif.) dumped in 14 points, two assists and one steal, while freshman Clif Colbert (Grand Prairie, Texas) turned in his third-straight double-figure scoring effort with 12 points and five caroms.

Navy out-rebounded Morgan State by 27, which featured a 20-8 advantage on the offensive glass.

Starting guard Timothy Mathis paced Morgan State with 11 points, while Joseph McLean added eight.

The Mids will have the next nine days off to focus on final exams before welcoming Washington College to Alumni Hall on Dec. 18 for a 3 p.m. matchup.

G-o N-a-v-y