Feb. 8, 2005

Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore dominated Howard University, 88-74 to earn its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win of the season and at the same time ended a 17-game losing streak. Led by Tim Parham's career-high 28 points and Corey Brown career-high 21 points, the Fighting Hawks shot an incredible 56% from the floor.

In the first half, both teams came out slow as Parham scored the first bucket of the game almost two full minutes into the action after the teams combined to committ five turnovers and four fouls before the scoring spree began.

Behind the hot hand of Aly Samabaly, UMES jumped out to a quick 11-point lead at 19-8 as Samabaly nailed two three-pointers. The lead grew to as many as 14, but settled at nine at 35-26 going into halftime.

UMES began the second half on a 18-7 run to stretch the lead to 20 as Brown capped the run with back to back layups that were only 15 second apart.

Again the lead grew to as many as 22-points at 64-42, but Howard had a stretch of four minutes where they were able to pressure the Fighting Hawks and climb to within 10-points at 77-67 with 2:34 remaining.

UMES sealed the game from the free-throw line as they converted on 11 of its last 14 free-throw attempts. On the evening, the Fighting Hawks shot an amazing 31 of 40 from the charity stripe. Jareem Dowling, who made only one field goal all evening - a big three-pointer on an assist from Parham, scored 14 points in the game as he shot 11-12 from the free throw line. Parham also was a resident at the line as he went 10-15 from the free-throw line.

Even though the Hawks committed 19 turnovers compared to Howard's 10 and were out-rebounded 42 to 38 (23 to 6 on the offensive boards), UMES held Howard to 35% shooting.

UMES scored a season-high 53 points in the second half on 65% shooting from the floor and 32 attempts from the free-throw line, of which they converted 23. They also hit 4-6 from beyond the arc, led by Samabaly and Brown.

Not to be forgotten was the contribution from the freshman, Ryan Leak who dropped 13 points and added two block shots on 4-of-8 shooting.

All in all, the Fighting Hawks five starters all played at least 34 minutes each and carried this team to victory.

UMES will return to action as they look to make a late-season push in MEAC play as they host the defending MEAC champion Florida A&M Rattlers on Saturday, February 12, 2005 at 4:00 p.m. The game will follow the girls game at 2:00 p.m. and is Homecoming for the Fighting Hawks.