WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Saturday (Dec. 22), the University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team will face American University at noon in their final game before Christmas.

The Hawks (1-11) will be playing their tenth road game of the season Saturday as their tough nonconference schedule continues. Maryland Eastern Shore has not played at home since Nov. 30 versus Delaware.

Eastern Shore dropped their previous game on Thursday (Dec. 20) at Winthrop University. The Shore had four players in double figures during that game – Ryan Andino (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), Colen Gaynor (Berlin, MD), Canaan Bartley (Miami, FL) and Tyler Jones (Atlantic City, NJ) – and also got point guard Bryan Urrutia (Chihuahua, Mexico) back from injury against WU.

Winthrop also marked the debut of Gaynor this season and Saturday's contest will be the first time the Hawks will have the services of Isaac Taylor (Wachapreague, VA) in almost two years.

The junior missed the entire 2017-18 season due to injury and suffered another injury in the preseason, but will make his return in the nation's capital Saturday. Taylor should bring much needed size and rebounding along the Hawks' frontline.

The American University Eagles are 5-4 on the season including wins over George Mason and UMBC. MEAC opponent of the Hawks, Howard University, was able to defeat American 85-83 on Dec. 8.

Junior Sa'eed Nelson leads American with 19.6 points and six rebounds per game. Sophomore Sam Iorio is the Eagles' top rebounder at 7.2 per game, while shooting 41 percent from three point range.

Following Saturday's game, the Hawks will return to the court at Virginia Tech on Dec. 28 before closing the calendar year at home against Chestnut Hill College on New Year's Eve.

For more information on Eastern Shore Athletics visit http://www.easternshorehawks.com/.