Box Score

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Hawk fans had waited seven months to finally see the basketball team in action under new coach Bobby Collins. With an entirely new coaching staff, zero returning starters and eight newcomers, many expected large-scale changes on the court. Those expectations proved true as two newcomers, Devin Martin and Mike Myers, led the charge in Tuesday's 70-51 victory over Salisbury University.

Both Martin and Myers joined the team in the offseason as junior college transfers, and they are expected to play large roles immediately, along with Dominique Elliott. Martin, a native of Baltimore, led all scorers with 20 points on 7-for-13 shooting. Martin also led the team with four steals in the exhibition. Meanwhile, Myers nearly posted a double-double, ending a couple rebounds shy at 19 points and eight boards.

The Hawks offense was bolstered by a strong night from the floor, shooting 55 percent as a team (22-for-40). However, they were hampered all night by misses from the free throw line, ending the game with a disappointing mark at 48.7 percent (19-for-39). UMES took advantage of a considerable size advantage down low, outrebounding Salisbury by 15 boards. The Hawks gave those extra opportunities away though by committing 20 turnovers.

UMES raced out to a big lead early thanks to strong defense and a cold start by Salisbury. The visitors made just one field goal in the first eleven minutes of the contest, as UMES led 20-3 at one point. Myers scored eight of the first ten points for UMES, asserting his low post presence early. Salisbury found a groove to match UMES after the slow start, as the Hawks took just an 11-point lead into halftime at 34-23.

The Seagulls fought hard to keep the game close, but UMES eventually wore down the local rivals. Devon Walker hit a three-pointer with 15:17 to play to push the Hawks' lead out to 17 points. Salisbury clawed back with a 9-2 run, but the visitors could not get the deficit back into single digits. The Hawks defense put down the clamps as Salisbury went scoreless for five minutes in the second half, as UMES turned a 50-40 lead at 10:34 to go into a comfortable margin at 66-40 with 5:22 to play.

In addition to Martin and Myers, Devon Walker also finished in double digits at 12 points. Walker went 3-for-4 beyond the arc, and ripped down nine rebounds as well. Another senior, Ishaq Pitt, topped the team in assists with six. Another well-regarded junior college transfer, Dominique Elliott was saddled with early foul trouble and managed just two points in 15 minutes.

Justin May and Justin Witmer were the only two Seagulls in double digits at 16 and 14 points, respectively. It was the third straight year that UMES has defeated the local Division III squad, though Tuesday's game proved to be much more competitive that last season's 95-55 blowout.

UMES opens the regular season on the road at Virginia Tech on Friday, November 14. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Blacksburg, Va. Fans can watch the season opener on ESPN3, or listen live on the Hawks Radio Network on SFMSports.Net.