When challenged by his coach to improve his play, slumping Navy point guard Hasan Abdullah responded.

Abdullah scored 12 of his 15 points during crucial moments of the second half Sunday to lead Navy to a 66-59 win over Morgan State at Alumni Hall.

The win was Navy’s sixth in seven games as the Midshipmen improved to 7-3 overall and 4-0 at home.

Abdullah, a junior, also added a career-best 10 rebounds for his first career double double, and contributed six assists, as Navy had to rally for the second game in a row.

“I gave Hasan a sheet of paper yesterday with four things on it and said, ‘You have to concentrate on these four things … take care of the ball … be a better defensive rebounder, contain the ball on defense and play hard without fouling.’ If you do those things, it creates activity and if you have activity, it is amazing how the ball will find kids and they will make open shots,” Navy coach Ed DeChellis said.

Morgan State was led by Phillip Carr with 15 points, though he sat out eight minutes of the second half in foul trouble. Martez Cameron had 14 points, six assists and four steals. LaPri McCray-Pace had 11 points.

joeveans@capgaznews.com