Final Stats | Post Game Interview

DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University (NCCU) jumped out to an 8-1 lead and never looked back Saturday afternoon in Durham, North Carolina as the Eagles grabbed an early conference win over the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), 70-59.

The task was daunting to start, taking on the pre-season conference champions, last year's regular-season champions, and a team with now 32 straight conference wins and to top it off, the Eagles boast the nation's second-longest home winning streak, which they would run to 38 games.

Still the Hawks managed to win the second half, 36-34, and win several categories, like bench points and second-chance points. They also played well defensively, swatting seven shots, grabbing six steals and matching NCCU on the defensive boards with 19.

They did however turn the ball over 22 times to the Eagles' 15, a category the Hawks didn't want to have a higher number in.

"We didn't take care of the basketball, we didn't need to do what we needed to do." said head coach Bobby Collins. "We try to prepare our kids to play in a hostile environment. Even though we have been to Kansas State and Missouri, this environment is different and we didn't get it done today and I am going to take the blame for it."

The Hawks (1-6, 0-1 MEAC) went on a 10-2 run with just over eight minutes to play in the first half that cut the lead to four, 25-21. The run was fueled by UMES freshman Dontae Caldwell (Santa Ana Calif.), who netted eight of those 10 points. He would finish with 13.

"Caldwell is aggressive and just plays hard and doesn't over think. If you are going to make a mistake, make it going full speed and that is how [Caldwell] plays," added Collins.

The Eagles (2-4, 1-0 MEAC) answered right back and went on a run of their own, 11-2, to end the half and have a lead 36-23. They continued that run to start the second frame with two straight buckets that gave NCCU their largest lead, 40-23, 17 points.

The Hawks started a comeback from there, including a 9-2 run late in the frame that trimmed the deficit to 60-53. Devin Martin (Baltimore, Md.) scored seven of those nine in that stretch, adding to his game high 25 points. Martin tried to carry the Hawks in the second half, with 19 late frame points. UMES would get no closer than those seven points, with the final difference being 11, 70-59.

"[NCCU] took [Dominique Elliott] out of the game today and Martin didn't get going early," said a disappointed Collins. "Those two are important to keep us rolling and today they weren't prepared to play in this environment."

Derrico Peck (Atlanta, Ga.) had one of his best games of the year, turning in six points and grabbing a team-high five rebounds.

On the other bench the Eagles were led by Dajuan Graf, who scored 15 of his 21 in the second 20 minutes of action. Jeremiah Ingram added 13 points and a game-high seven boards.

UMES tries to get their first MEAC win on Monday when they travel across state to Greensboro to face North Carolina A&T State, who picked up their first MEAC win Saturday over Howard. "It's tough playing on the road anyway," said Collins. "But you have to be mentally tough to win on the road. We got to get prepared for the next one, the next hostile environment. I'm going to challenge them again and keep working and we are going to get it together. "

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and can be heard live locally with Brendan Gulick on WTGM-AM 960 and on in the internet at UMESHawks.com via SFMSports.