Box Score

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team could not keep up with the breakneck pace of the #15 ranked VCU Rams in Richmond, Va. on Thursday night. Playing for the second consecutive night, the Hawks failed to slow down the offensive onslaught from Virginia Commonwealth with a final score of 106-66.

A night after defeating Mount St. Mary's for the first win of the Bobby Collins era, UMES had to regroup to face one of the top teams in the nation. VCU jumped all over the Hawks in the opening minutes, scoring the game's first 18 points before UMES finally got on the board with a Devin Martin three-pointer. The Rams made 10 of their first 11 shots on the night as the relentless full-court pressure paid dividends with quick open shots.

By halftime, VCU opened up a 61-30 advantage by shooting 61.1% from the floor and forcing ten turnovers, including nine steals. The Rams made 10 of 16 three-point attempts in the first half, as the VCU offense put on an impressive display. The Hawks did their best to keep pace, shooting 40.0% as a squad, a good mark but well below VCU's output.

In the second half, the Rams cooled off slightly, but not nearly enough to allow for a Hawks' comeback. VCU had 13 different players get into the scorebook, including five players with double digits, led by freshman Terry Larrier with 21 points. Even though the Hawks' defense could not limit the damage, there were encouraging signs from the offense.

UMES senior guard Devon Walker caught fire, hitting seven three pointers on the evening, accounting for all 21 of his points. Meanwhile, junior Devin Martin constantly attacked the defense, creating offense by getting to the foul line. Martin finished the night with 20 points, including a perfect 11-for-11 on free throws. The team posted a 38.3% shooting percentage, much improved from their losses at Virginia Tech and Villanova. From the free throw line, the Hawks made considerable strides, shooting 78.6% as a team, up from 55.7% in their first three games combined.

With two losses to ranked opponents in the past four nights, UMES has navigated through its toughest stretch of the non-conference schedule. The Hawks are halfway done their current eight-game road trip, which picks up on Saturday against St. Francis (Pa.). The Red Flash are 1-2 with losses at Cincinnati and at American, with their only win against Division III Keystone College. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Degol Arena in Loretto, Pa. Hawks fans can catch the action on the Hawks Radio Network powered by SFMSports.net and Fox Sports 960 AM.