PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania — The pattern of slow starts for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team continued on Thursday night (Dec. 13) versus the Duquesne University Dukes as the Hawks were defeated 72-57 in the Palumbo Center.
"We got off to another very slow start," head coach Clifford Reed said. "We have to learn how to match and even surpass the other team's energy and intensity so we can respond when they come out to hit us in the mouth."
Since Nov. 13 against Longwood, Maryland Eastern Shore has been playing with nine players available and Thursday saw the Hawks rotation get even shorter. Starting point guard Bryan Urrutia (Chihuahua, Mexico) missed his first game of the season with a lower body injury as only eight players suited up. His absence contributed to the slow start for the Shore.
Junior Dontae Caldwell (Santa Ana, CA) made a free throw at the 12:06 mark of the first half that gave DU an 18-7 lead. The Hawks would not score again until 6:43 was left in the half and by that time Duquesne had a 20 point lead.
Eastern Shore did close the first half with momentum after finishing the half on a 12-5 run that culminated with a tip in by junior AJ Cheeseman (Snellville, GA) at the buzzer to make the halftime score at 41-26.
In the second half the Hawks and Dukes played to a 31-31 tie. DU had multiple three to four minute stretches where they did not score in that half as the Hawks defensive intensity rose.
Guard Ryan Andino (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) was one of the constants for the Hawks as he had a game high 22 points by scoring 11 in each half. Andino's performance brought him within four points of 1,000 for his Hawk career.
Caldwell also had his best game of the season after putting up a double-double with 11 points and tying for the game high with 11 rebounds following a coach's decision to not play him in the team's last game.
"Not playing last game made think about what I am doing here," Caldwell said. "So I decided to do the things I needed to do and stayed focused on the game plan tonight."
"Dontae and I talked after last game and he is to be commended on his attitude and work ethic," Reed said. "His body language has been really good lately and I told him once he gets more minutes he will be better and his double-double is as good as it gets for a guard."
The Dukes finished with four players in double figures led by Lamar Norman Jr. who had 16 points. Marcus Weathers had 11 points and 11 rebounds with seven of his rebounds coming on the offensive glass.
Eastern Shore will be back in action Saturday afternoon (Dec. 15) versus the University of Pittsburgh. Tip for that game will be at 2 p.m. The Hawks will return to Maryland Sunday and begin preparation for two games next week against Winthrop and American.
For more information on Eastern Shore Athletics visit http://www.easternshorehawks.com/.
