Game Notes

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team will return to action after a brief break for the Christmas holiday. The Hawks (6-8) hit the road again to face yet another Atlantic 10 opponent, this time a Sunday afternoon matchup with Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa.

UMES was able to enjoy their holiday after notching an impressive road win against St. Bonaventure. In a thrilling contest, the Hawks held on for an 82-80 final score, completing one of the program's best wins in years. Five Hawks hit double digits in scoring, including a team-high 19 points from Mike Myers (Camden, N.J.) despite fouling out with four minutes to play. UMES caught fire from behind the arc, with shooters Devin Martin, Devon Walker and Ryan Andino combining for 10-of-17 from the 3-point line.

The win over St. Bonaventure was the second victory over an Atlantic 10 Conference team this season. Prior to the Hawks' earlier win against Fordham, the program had not won a game against a current A-10 team in 45 years, since the 1968-69 season. The matchup against Duquesne represents another opportunity to make some noise against one of the nation's best basketball conferences. UMES is 2-1 against A-10 teams this year, with the lone loss coming against then-#15 ranked VCU Rams.

The Hawks will need their best efforts again to knock off Duquesne (4-5) on Sunday afternoon. The Dukes have had a week off since a 79-63 victory over UMass-Lowell to snap a previous four-game losing streak. Duquesne relies on a balanced attack with four players averaging double-digits, but no one player above 12.5 points per game. Coach Jim Ferry employs his bench early and often as no single player averages more than 27 minutes per game, and their top scorer, Jordan Stevens, has not started a single game this year.

Duquesne has played one common opponent with UMES, as both teams lost to Saint Francis University. While the Hawks dropped a close game in the final minute, Duquesne was handled with ease by the Red Flash at home, 67-52. The Dukes have already faced N.J.I.T. and Howard, future opponents for UMES in the coming months. Duquesne lost a tight contest to N.J.I.T., and they steamrolled the fellow MEAC school, 81-63.

Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon at A.J. Palumbo Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. Hawks fans can tune into the Hawks Radio Network, powered by SFMSports.net and Fox Sports 960 AM in Salisbury, Md. Pregame coverage begins twenty minutes before tip, at 1:40 p.m.