Final Stats

EAST LANSING, Michigan - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) faced off with the Associated Press No. 1 college basketball team in the country for the first time in program history on Wednesday night when it traveled to East Lansing Michigan.

The 78-35 loss to the Spartans (10-0) was a tough one for a team with 10 new faces that coach Bobby Collins is still trying to trying to figure out.

"We have to get better. I have to do a better job," Collins said. "We will and I will get better, but it's hard to get better against the No. 1 team in the country. They exploit all our weaknesses -- transition defense and we have to do a better job rebounding and that's a team effort."

"This was a very good team that we played, but at the same time I still expect my team to fight. I still expect them to do what I say and execute and we will get better," Collins added.

The Spartans got out early, but led just 11-8 after a 3-pointer by Ryan Andino (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) with 13:12 left in the first half.

But a 19-2 run from there put the Hawks (1-8) in a deep hole. At the half, Michigan State led 36-16 as the Spartans got 12 points from their bench.

"We tried to make them defend," Collins said. "We didn't want to shoot it quickly. We kind of got out of character from the defensive plan that we had, but that is a very good team. They are going to do what they do and will the way they want to play. (Denzel) Valentine was the best player in the country arguably to (Ben) Simmons of LSU."

While the Spartans continued to pull away in the second half, Valentine showed a little bit of everything finishing with 10 points 11 rebounds six assists a block and two steals in 28 minutes.

Michigan State shot 50 percent from the field, 50 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the line. It got 28 points from its bench including 12 from reserve guard Eron Harris.

The Spartans had 25 assists on 25 baskets and scored 14 points off of 13 UMES turnovers and out-rebounded the Hawks 48-31.

Dominique Elliott (Savannah, Georgia) scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds to lead UMES, while Thomas Rivera (Harlem, New York) continued to assert himself at the point guard spot finishing with eight points four assists and two steals in 21 minutes.

During the post-game handshake Michigan State coach Tom Izzo had some words of encouragement for Collins.

"He said he liked our team and that like us he was still trying to figure out who he was going to play," Collins said. "Through nine games, I'm still trying to figure that out. The thing is that we have to play and do the things I ask them to do until I find the combination of players that we can narrow it down to eight or nine."

The contest was the fourth of a seven-game road swing and the first of a two-game stretch that will also see the Hawks face off with No. 6 Maryland.

"Our guys have got to do a better job of executing," Collins said. "If we execute we'll have a chance and that is offensively and defensively."

The Hawks will next travel to College Park on Saturday, Dec. 12 for a 4:15 p.m. tipoff against the Terrapins that can be seen on the Big Ten Network.

The games can be heard locally on Fox Sports Radio 960 AM WTGM or on www.umeshawks.com. Brendan Gulick will have the call on the Hawks Sports Radio Network.