Box Score

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team fought tooth and nail in the second half, but Delaware State spoiled Homecoming by handing the Hawks a 91-85 defeat on Saturday evening. UMES (14-13, 7-5) trailed by as many as 18 points and closed to gap to a bucket, but the Hawks could not quite get over the hump against the rival Hornets.

UMES got off to a very slow start, and Delaware State capitalized with a barrage of three-pointers. After six minutes of play, the Hornets led 13-4 thanks to three triples early, including a pair from point guard Kendal Williams. UMES responded with a 6-0 run, but Delaware State never relinquished the upper hand. The Hawks kept in contact with a three-point attack of their own, keyed by Devon Walker and Ryan Andino. Each team nailed seven three-pointers in the first half, including five makes by the freshman Andino.

With a late personal foul followed by a technical, Williams closed the first half with four made free throws to up the Hornets' lead to 44-36. Delaware State maintained the momentum as the second period started, scoring six straight points to open a 14-point advantage. The lead grew to as large as 18 points at 65-47 with 13:58 remaining. UMES steadily chipped away at the lead, bringing it to single digits on a trey by Walker with 11:39 left.

At the five-minute mark, UMES cut the lead to four points on a layup by Devin Martin. Kendall Gray responded with a huge three-point play, setting up a recurring theme of Delaware State making big shots time after time. The Hornets shot-making proved the difference in the final minute. After another Martin layup trimmed the lead to two points with 58 seconds left, the Hornets held the ball to burn clock. As the shot clock wound down, Amere May banked home an incredibly difficult runner with defenders draped all over him. The basket pushed the lead back to a two-possession game, and UMES ran out of time on its thrilling comeback.

Mike Myers (Camden, N.J.) nearly posted yet another double-double, finishing a rebound shy with 23 points and nine boards. Myers was a remarkable 9-for-11 from the field, but just 5-of-9 from the free throw line. Andino set a career-high with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting from long range. Wings Martin and Walker chipped in 15 and 12 points respectively. Point guard Ishaq Pitt scored eight points and dished a game-high seven assists.

Free throws proved to be the difference as the teams were virtually identical in shooting percentages from the floor and three-point arc. Foul shooting though favored Delaware State, who knocked down 18-of-21 free throw attempts compared to the Hawks' 12-of-20. UMES dominated the paint, even against Gray of Delaware State, a favorite for MEAC Defensive Player of the Year. The Hawks outscored the Hornets 36 to 22 in the lane with 22 second-chance points on 14 offensive rebounds.

With the loss, UMES will take a dip in the league standings. Now at 7-5 in conference play, the Hawks drop from third place to a tie for fifth place, deadlocked with South Carolina State. Delaware State moves up at 12-13 overall, but more importantly 6-4 in the MEAC. The Hornets currently occupy the fourth and final first-round bye in the conference tournament.

UMES faces another tough test with the third-place team, the Howard University Bison, coming to Princess Anne on Monday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at William P. Hytche Athletic Center, following the conclusion of the women's basketball game. Hawks fans can listen live to the Hawks Radio Network, powered by SFMSports.net and Fox Sports 960 AM in Salisbury, Md.