Game Notes

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team will make the short trip up route 13 for a rivalry game against the Delaware State Hornets on Saturday afternoon. UMES (16-13, 9-5) will go for their third straight victory as well as some payback against their biggest rivals. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Memorial Hall in Dover, Del.

The Hawks have managed a measure of revenge in their last two games, earning season splits with both Howard and South Carolina State with recent wins. UMES has a similar opportunity with Saturday's matchup against Delaware State, having previously lost 91-85 to the Hornets, spoiling Homecoming weekend in Princess Anne. In that game, UMES trailed by as many as 18 points in the second half, but the Hawks stormed back with the crowd on their side. However, Delaware State nailed several tough shots to just hold on as time ran out on the Hawks' comeback bid. Delaware State guard Amere May drained a very difficult floater in the final 30 seconds to secure the victory for the Hornets.

UMES comes into Saturday's game in prime position in the MEAC standings thanks to back-to-back wins over league contenders, Howard and South Carolina State. The most recent win, 68-56 final last Saturday at Orangeburg, came down to defensive intensity in the second half. The Hawks buckled down on Edward Stephens and company, only allowing five points in the final 12 minutes. Devin Martin scored a team-high 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting as the Hawks retained third place in the conference.

This weekend's rivalry game will be another fantastic matchup between two of the best big men in the conference. Delaware State's Kendall Gray, the presumptive favorite for MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, squares off down low against the Hawks' bruiser Mike Myers, a candidate for Mid-Major National Player of the Year. Gray is second in the nation in rebounding (11.7 boards per game) and top 25 in blocked shots (2.6 blocks per game). Meanwhile, Myers continues to be a force down low for the Hawks with his team-high 16.1 points per game, and 7.1 rebounds per game, in addition to the second-most free throw attempts in the NCAA at 263 (9.1 per game). In round one, Myers won the individual battle with 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting, even outrebounding Gray by a count of 9 to 4. Still, Gray showed a refined offensive game with a midrange jumper, scoring 15 points en route to the Hornets' win.

On Saturday, UMES could clinch a top-4 seed and a first-round bye in the MEAC Tournament under the following scenario: UMES defeats Delaware State, and Howard beats Hampton. A win for UMES would also mean the most wins for the program since 1980-81, when the Hawks went 17-13. It would also guarantee an overall winning record, including any postseason results.

Delaware State owns the slight advantage in the all-time series, 54 to 48. The rivalry has been a tightly contested one in recent history. UMES and Delaware State have split the season series each of the last five years. The Hawks will need their first win at Memorial Hall since a 63-60 overtime victory on January 14, 2012 to achieve the sixth straight season split between the rivals.

Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Memorial Hall in Dover, Del. Hawk fans can listen live to the Hawks Radio Network, powered by SFMSports.net and Fox Sports 960 AM in Salisbury, Md. Doug Newton will have the call of both games of the men's and women's basketball doubleheader.