Dec. 17, 2016 ANN ARBOR, Michigan -
With four games remaining in 2016 and five games left to get ready for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference season, The University of Maryland Eastern Shore had a break at the right time.
But after having finals week off, it was right back to the road for the Hawks (1-9), who face Michigan (8-3) at 3 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 17) as part of a men's/women's doubleheader at the Crisler Center. The game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.
Eastern Shore has had a rough go of it during a tough early season schedule and things get no easier against a Michigan team that a week ago was facing No. 2 UCLA in Los Angeles.
While they fell to the Bruins, the rebounded this week at home against Central Arkansas.
Michigan set school records in three-point field goals made (19) and attempted (45) in a 97-53 win against the Bears on Dec. 13. Nine different Wolverines made a shot from behind the arc in that game. Michigan now has five games with 10-plus three-pointers in a game and is shooting 37.7 percent (109-for-289).
The Wolverines can flat out shoot the basketball and that extends to the free throw line where they are eighth (8th) in the country in free-throw percentage at 79.9 percent (143-for-179). The Hawks are shooting 67 percent from the free throw line, but are getting there much less attempting 120 fewer free throws than their opponents on the season.
Zak Irvin leads Michigan with 14.2 points per game, having scored in double figures in nine games. He scored a season-best 23 points against Virginia Tech (Nov. 30). He has scored 15-plus points in seven games.
Junior Ryan Andino still leads the Hawks in scoring (14 ppg) after a strong three-game stretch, but struggled in a 76-58 loss at Central Florida hitting just 2-of-11 from the field. Andino is 10th in the MEAC in scoring, fifth in 3-point field goal percentage .449 and second in shots made from behind the arc at 40.
Senior Bakari Copeland is second on the team in scoring at 13.7 points per game (13th MEAC) and leads the team in rebounding at 5.5 per contest (12th MEAC). Logan McIntosh is third in scoring at 10 points per game and leads the team in assists at 4.1 assists per game (3rd MEAC) despite beginning the season coming off the bench.
This will be the first ever meeting between Michigan and Maryland Eastern Shore. Wolverines coach John Beilein faced the Hawks while at West Virginia, garnering a 95-49 win on Dec. 28, 2006.
Games can be heard locally on Fox Sports Radio 960 AM WTGM or on www.EasternShoreHawks.com. Will DeBoer will have the call from Ann Arbor Saturday at on The Shore Sports Network.
Season tickets for the 2016-2017 season are on sale now starting at just $125, for all men's and women's home games. Did you know that a purchasing a season ticket helps all sports at Maryland Eastern Shore, not just basketball? To purchase season tickets, click here. For more information about the 1ticKet Drive, log on to the web at easternshorehawks.com or call 410-651-6499. It's time to show your #HawkPride!
