Nov. 12, 2015 Game Notes| ESPN3| SEC NETWORK
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - This weekend, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Men's Basketball team begins its 2015-16 season on the road against two Power Five Foes. Tomorrow (Nov. 13), the Hawks travel to Manhattan, Kan. where they will take on Kansas State from the Big 12. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. EDT
On Sunday (Nov. 15), the club stays in the Midwest as they face Southeastern Conference (SEC) opponent Missouri. The action starts at 6 p.m. EDT
Fans will have the opportunity to follow both contests. ESPN3 will broadcast UMES versus Kansas State while the SEC Network will showcase the squad's matchup against Missouri.
Hawk fans can listen to every game on SFMSports.net and Fox Sports 960 AM in Salisbury, Md. Pregame coverage for both games begin 15 minutes before tipoff.
MATCHUP PREVIEW
Friday night's showdown features Bruce Weber and the young Kansas State Wildcats. The club comes into the season returning one starter from a year ago. K-State lost their top three scorers after finishing tied for sixth in the Big 12. Wingman Wesley Iwundu and senior guard Justin Edwards look to guide the Wildcats this season. Additionally, the squad is predicted to finish tied for eighth in the conference.
For Missouri, head coach Kim Anderson looks to rebound from a year ago. The team finished 9-23 overall and 3-15 in conference play. Despite losing their top scorer, the Tigers bring back junior guard Wes Clark. Last season, the Motor City native averaged 10.1 points-per-game (PPG) and led the squad in steals-per-game (1.7). Before the season, a select panel of both SEC and national media members predicted Missouri to finish 14th in the conference.
UMES head coach Bobby Collins enters the season with a combination of young and experience. This season, the conference's men's basketball head coaches and sports information directors saw UMES to finish fourth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
Collins returns seven players, including 2015-16 All-MEAC preseason selections Dominique Elliott (Savannah, Ga.) and Devin Martin (Baltimore). Elliott averaged 7.1 PPG and returns as the top rebounder for the Hawks after 17 starts a year ago. This season, Elliott looks to have a bigger role after the departure of All-American Mike Myers. Martin comes into his final season as the squad's top returner after posting 14.0 PPG a year ago. The Baltimore native and 2015 MEAC Rookie of the Year Ryan Andino (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) will guide the Hawks' backcourt this season.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
On Nov. 21, the Hawks wrap up their three-game road trip in Spartanburg, S.C. where the Wofford Terriers, 2015 Southern Conference Champions, await. Game time is set for noon.
Three days later (Nov. 24), the club host Fairfield in the season home opener inside the William P. Hytche Athletic Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
For complete recaps, results and news of Hawk athletics, please visitwww.umeshawks.com .
