Feb. 21, 2004
Box Score
Princess Anne, MD - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (UMES) (7-17, 6-9 MEAC) looked to give the sold out crowd of Alumni, Students, and Fans another win, following in the women's footsteps. Unfortunately the Hawks couldn't pull it out. The supportive crowd got behind them in the second half as the Hawks went up by as many as 13 but a thunderous Spartan comeback upended UMES, 63-57.
Tee Trotter, the all-time Division I scorer at UMES, had a landmark night, scoring nine first half points and moving into second place on the all-time leading scorer list at UMES. His 22 points tonight give him 1,832. He surpassed Levi Fontaine and now trails only Jake Ford, the Hawk's all-time leading scorer with 2,218 points.
Aaron Wellington was the only other Hawk in double figures, adding 12 points. Javes Wiggins was again in double figure rebounding with 11. He also added seven points. Didier Socka added six boards and five points while Antoine Joiner also had five.
Norfolk State University (NSU) (9-15, 8-7 MEAC) took a 23-21 lead into the locker room at the break but couldn't hold on to it early in the second half. The Hawks came storming back, tying it on a Wiggins tip-in and taking a two point lead on a pair of Trotter free throws. Norfolk State tied it on a Ryan Grier lay-in and the game went back and forth until UESM took a five point lead on back to back three-pointers by Trotter and Wellington, giving UMES the 33-28 lead at the 16:50 mark. They would push that lead to 13, 45-32 at the 12:46 mark and despite a Michael Bates jumper be up 13 again at the 12:03 mark on a Wiggins jumper.
The Hawks seemed in control until the Spartans began to cut away at the lead. UMES would be outscored 25-7 in the final ten minutes after outscoring NSU 29-15 in the first ten minutes. It was a tale of two halves for the Hawks as they would make only three field goals in the second ten-minute stretch. The lead was three at the 4:25 mark, 57-54 for the Hawks after two Grier free throws. It was then a one-point advantage with 3:02 to play on a pair of Karandick Ogunride free throws. They would almost give the lead back as Jareem Dowling knocked the ball away from Chakowby Hicks and Wiggins would pick it up for a two-handed monster jam. The problem being that Dowling was called for a foul. No one heard the whistle over the crowd's eruption and the basket was waived off. The Spartans went on the win 63-57.
Norfolk State put four players in double figures. Grier led them with 16, Hicks added 13, and Ogunride and Bates each added 11. Ogunride's eight boards were a team high.
UMES now prepares for their final home game of the season, Monday night, February 23 against Hampton University. That is also senior night as the Hawks are graduating seven seniors, four in their last year of eligibility. The game is scheduled for a 7:30 pm tip-off in the Hytche Center.
