PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland -

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore split a North Carolina road trip with a win at North Carolina A&T State and a loss at North Carolina Central, but hopes to get back in the win column when it hosts Howard on Saturday (Jan. 14) at 4 p.m.

The Hawks (4-13, 1-1 MEAC) were two very different teams this week shooting 58 percent at A&T and then just 36 percent at Central from the field. They hope to find a happy medium in their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference home opener.

Howard (3-13, 0-1 MEAC), will again be without 2015-16 MEAC Player of the Year James Daniels because of an ankle injury. Daniels, whomissed the start of the season, returned to the court with 24 points Jan. 4 in a loss to Florida A&M and then put up 10 at Columbia on Jan. 7. But he tweaked his angle again and will be out two more weeks.

Daniels, a Hampton, Virginia native, is a capable scorer who led the NCAA in scoring last season at 27.1 points per game in just more than 36 minutes a contest. Daniels accounted for nearly 38 percent of his team's scoring last season, when the Bison went 12-20 overall and 6-10 in the conference.

Junior guard Dalique Mingo also fractured an ankle and is out indefinitely, leaving the Bison with only eight scholarship players in uniform.

Redshirt junior James Miller led Howard in Daniels' absence with 16.2 points per game, but missed most of December himself (returning with Daniels at Florida A&M) and has played in just nine games. Senior forward Solomon Mangham (6-foot-7, 230 pounds) averages 10.3 points and 6.3 rebounds, while freshman Charles Williams chips in 13.3 points per game.

Senior Bakari Copeland (Decatur, Georgia) leads the Hawks in scoring (15.5 ppg) and rebounding (5.7 rpg). Copeland ranks sixth in the MEAC, including 19.5 PPG in league play. Copeland has scored in double figures in 14 of 17 games.

Junior Ryan Andino (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) has been a prolific if not consistent scorer this season for The Shore. He's averaging 14.4 points per game and poured in a career=high 31 at A&T, but has been held to single digits six times this season including last time out at Central.

Sophomore Dontae Caldwell (Santa Ana, California) had scored double digits in five straight games before being held to 7 points against the Eagles. He is averaging 8.1 points and 5.0 rebounds a game.

Junior Logan McIntosh (Atlanta, Georgia) is second in the MEAC in assists (4.7 pg).

The game is part of a doubleheader with the women's game starting at 2 p.m. and the men's game set to begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's contest.

Games can be heard locally on Fox Sports Radio 960 AM WTGM or on www.EasternShoreHawks.com. Will DeBoer and David Byrd will have the call Saturday from the William P. Hytche Athletic Center 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!