Game Notes

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team returns to league play as they face MEAC foe Morgan State University. The Hawks (8-9) travel to Baltimore to square off with their in-state rival on Monday night.

UMES saw their three-game winning streak come to an end in their last contest at NJIT in a 69-60 loss on Wednesday night. Mike Myers (Camden, N.J.) enjoyed a career-night with 29 points and 16 rebounds, but the Hawks could not take advantage of their senior's contributions. The offense sunk just 2-of-16 three-point attempts, well below their MEAC-best three-point percentage at 35.6% for the season.

As a part of his impressive performance in Newark, Myers made 11-of-12 free throws, pushing his season total to 137 free throw attempts on the season. Myers currently ranks third in the NCAA in free throw attempts, behind Jerome Hill of Gardner-Webb and Juan'ya Green of Hofstra. The Hawks' forward also has now collected three straight double-doubles after not posting a double-double in the season's first 14 games.

The Hawks are wrapping up a six-game road trip that started in mid-December. UMES is now 5-6 away from Princess Anne this season, after collecting just one road win all of last year. The Hawks enter Monday's contest with a 1-1 record in conference play after an opening weekend split back in early December. UMES lost a close contest to the reigning league champs North Carolina Central, and then used a second-half comeback to top North Carolina A&T.

Morgan State (3-14) hosts Monday's game on the heels of an important road win at Delaware State. The Bears went to Dover and stole a 73-69 victory on the Hornets' home floor, improving to 1-2 in MEAC play. All three of Morgan State's early conference games have been on the road, losing to Hampton and Norfolk State in addition to Saturday's win. The Bears are led by Cedric Blossom and Blake Bozeman, both near 14 points per game. Blossom, a junior forward, is also second on the team in rebounding. Bozeman is the son of head coach Todd Bozeman, in his eighth season at Morgan State.

The Bears hold the all-time series advantage against UMES, 50-32, including three consecutive head-to-head wins. The last meeting came at W.P. Hytche Center, and Morgan State held off a second-half charge from the Hawks for an 88-72 win. The Bears' size in the paint proved to be the biggest factor, as seven-footer Ian Chiles had 22 points and Cedric Blossom posted a double-double.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Hill Field House after the conclusion of the women's basketball game, the first half of a doubleheader between the two schools. Pregame coverage will begin at 7:10 p.m. on the Hawks Radio Network, powered by SFMSports.net and Fox Sports 960 AM in Salisbury, Md.