WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. � Reggie Holmes scored 20 points and Morgan State claimed its first NCAA tournament berth by beating Norfolk State 83-69 on Saturday night in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship game.

Jermaine Bolden added 18 points and Kevin Thompson had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the top-seeded Bears (23-11).

They reeled off 18 consecutive points in the first half and 11 straight in the second, shot 49 percent and figured out the Spartans' energetic full-court press in plenty of time to send two-time MEAC coach of the year Todd Bozeman to his first NCAA tournament since he guided California there in the mid-1990s.

The next stop for these Bears: The sport's grandest stage, most likely as either a 15th or 16th seed.