PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team suffered their biggest conference defeat in five years on Monday night (Jan. 7) as the Hawks fell to the Howard University Bison 79-39.
"I take full responsibility for this game, we just didn't come to play," head coach Clifford Reed said. "We have to play with confidence and we let their guards intimidate us early and played somewhat timid."
The Hawks (2-15, 0-2 MEAC) struggled shooting the ball all night as they finished 12-57 shooting for the game, including 4-27 from 3-point range. Also, the Bison were able to control the glass as they outrebounded the Hawks 46-31.
Early on the game went back and forth as both teams started slow. Only nine total points had been scored by both teams after eight minutes of action. Play picked up for that time and a free throw from Ahmad Frost (Cincinnati, OH) made the HU lead 20-12 with 5:52 on the clock. However, Howard would the next 24 points of the contest over the next nine minutes to seize control.
The 12 points that the Hawks scored in the first half was a season low for points in either half for Maryland Eastern Shore. Frost was the only player from Eastern Shore to crack double digits as he finished with 10 points. Gabriel Gyamfi (Brampton, ON, Canada) led the team in rebounding by finishing with six.
Howard (7-9, 1-1 MEAC) got a stellar performance from MEAC preseason player of the year RJ Cole as he finished with 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Fellow All-MEAC performer, Charles Williams, finished with 16 points.
The Shore will take a few days off to regroup before getting back in the gym to prepare for a visit from North Carolina Central University on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 12). The Eagles finished sixth in the conference last season, but found the right touch down the stretch and won the conference tournament to earn a trip to the big dance, the NCAA Tournament.
"We just have to go back and learn from this game," Reed said. "We have to play harder and play smarter our next time out because we have the best coached team in the league coming in on Saturday."
For more information on Eastern Shore Athletics visit http://www.easternshorehawks.com/.
