HARTFORD, Connecticut — In a game with the No. 17 team in the nation, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team gave the University of Connecticut Huskies all they could handle as UConn outlasted the Hawks 72-63 on Tuesday night (November 30).
"We came in tonight with expectations to execute our game plan and have a chance to win," head coach Jason Crafton said. "They average almost 90 points a game, we said if we're in the 70s it's going to be a game and we did that, but we just need to be a little bit better on offense down the stretch."
The opening minutes were played at a frantic pace. The two teams traded the lead eight times and had two ties in the first eight minutes of the contest. The Huskies led 18-15 at the under 12:00 media timeout.
Connecticut led 22-17 with 10:20 on the clock following an 8-2 scoring run. The Hawks answered back and kept the game within one possession after a free throw from senior Donchevell "Tuka" Nugent followed by two straight layups from senior Nathaniel Pollard, Jr. to make the score 25-22 in favor of UConn with seven minutes left until halftime.
The Hawks went on a bit of a cold spell from the field the next five minutes as their next field goal would not come until freshman Chace Davis hit a jumper with 2:08 on the clock. The score stood at 31-26 at that point. The two teams would close the half alternating shots from the perimeter as the home team would eventually take a 39-31 lead into the break.
Eastern Shore shot well from the field for the second straight game in the opening half. The Hawks shot 50% from the field and 42.9% from behind the arc in the first 20 minutes.
When the second half started, The Shore began with a flurry. The squad scored the first seven points of the frame to make the score 39-38 following a goaltending call on a layup by junior Da'Shawn Phillip.
UConn made a three on the ensuing possession to go up four, but Phillip answered right back with one of his own to keep the Hawks within one. The Huskies made two free throws after that before junior Zion Styles drove through the lane and had a monstrous dunk that even made the Husky fans gasp to make the score 44-43 with 14:30 on the clock.
The Shore saw the Huskies lead get up to a nine with 10:14 on the clock as they led 57-48. Phillip drove into the lane and got a three point play to cut the lead to six. UConn then scored five straight to lead 62-51 with less than seven minutes left.
Once the lead got to double digits, the Hawks put together another rally. They went on an 11-4 run that was fueled by back to back 3-pointers from senior Mike Mensah. The conclusion of the run was a step back jumper from Davis to make the score 66-62 with 3:37 remaining.
The Davis shot would be the last field goal of the contest for The Shore. After that the Huskies outscored Eastern Shore 7-1 to close the game and secure the win.
Phillip and Mensah shared the team lead in points with 12 apiece. Mensah's 12 came from him shooting 4-5 from behind the arc after making just three 3-pointers all season prior to Tuesday's game.
"I told Mike that his opportunity is going to come and he needs to be ready, so I'm proud of him for staying the course and making some shots," Crafton said.
Styles was also in double figures with 11 points. Pollard, Jr. led the team in rebounds with six and also had two steals and a block.
Maryland Eastern Shore will play their fifth straight game away from the Hytche Center on Saturday (December 4) at Lehigh. The team will be at home for two straight games following that contest on December 8 against Clarks Summit and December 11 versus St. Mary's College.
