Final Stats

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland - he University of Maryland Eastern Shore entered Monday's matchup with Norfolk State riding a four-game winning streak and hanging its hat on a 6-1 record at the William P. Hytche Center.

Things looked good for the Hawks (8-17, 5-5 MEAC) as they led by five at the break and had led by as many as nine points, but the second half was another story as the Spartans (12-13, 8-2 MEAC) fought their way back.

The game featured 15 lead changes and 10 ties, but Norfolk State took the lead for the final time with 2:55 left in the game and maintained control for a 76-70 win.

"I feel like we played hard," senior co-captain Devin Martin said. "They just made bigger plays and they played harder down the stretch. At home we can't give up a nine-point lead with the fans and the energy in the gym going toward us. That just can't happen - not at home."

The Hawks seemed to be in control of the game in the fist half winning the battle on the boards 22-17 and had just four turnovers.

Martin (Baltimore, Maryland) had led the way with 11 first-half points, while freshman Dontae Caldwell(Los Angeles, California) had 10 at the break. Dominique Elliott (Savannah, Georgia) had seven rebounds and three assists at the half.

But the Spartans adjusted at the break coming out determined to throw different defenses at the Hawks to see what worked. They used the zone to close in on Elliott, often coming close to double teaming him before he even caught the ball in the post.

"It definitely was a battle," Hawks coach Bobby Collins said. "They made the right plays down the stretch. I thought they switched defenses on us and went to a 1-3-1, and a box and 1. They threw all the defenses they had at us."

Those defenses were focused on stopping Martin and Elliott and Martin finished the game with 20 points, but that came on 6-of-15 shooting from the field. The Hawks shot just 36 percent from the field in the second half and turned the ball over 11 times.

"It kind of surprised me, but not really," Martin said of the defensive changes. "They threw a box-and-one at me and they double teamed Dom on the inside. We are ready for anything a team throws at us. We have several sets and plays to execute. We just didn't tonight."

Elliott had a double-double 13 points and 12 rebounds, but the Spartans held the edge in the paint 28-12. Caldwell scored 18 points off the bench and Ryan Andino finished with nine - all from behind the arc.

Freshman Ahmad Frost (Cincinnati, Ohio) had been coming into his own as of late, but took a spill in the win against Hampton and misses Monday's game. Thomas Rivera (Harlem, New York) started in his stead and Mark Seylan (Paris, France) played 14 minutes off the bench at the point.

Rivera and Seylan combined to go 0-for-5 from the field, but Seylan had three rebounds and a pair of assists, while Rivera finished with seven assists.

"We definitely missed Frost," Collins said. "He brings a little more stability than Thomas, which is crazy because we brought Thomas in to give us that stability. He has to get that confidence he needs. We don't know how long it's going to be, but we'll find a way to win without (Frost)."

The Hawks hit the road again for Delaware State on Feb. 13 at 4 p.m. and Howard on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. Both are the second half of a men's and women's doubleheader.

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