NORFOLK, Virginia — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team battled with Old Dominion University at Chartway Arena on Monday night, but the Monarchs and foul trouble were too much to overcome as the Hawks fell, 84-65.
"I thought we guarded what they ran, we made some shots, we turned it over just 10 times versus an upper-level team," head coach Jason Crafton said, "but we just didn't get the job done rebounding the basketball."
The Hawks struck first on a Nathaniel Pollard Jr. layup. The teams traded baskets early, with Zion Styles drilling a three to put UMES up 5-2 in the early minutes.
Styles would drop in another three-ball on the next possession. Kohen Thompson followed him on the Hawks' next possession to knot the contest at 11-11.
Pollard broke a nine-point run from the Monarchs with a lay-in, cutting the ODU lead to 20-13. Pollard cashed in both free throws on the next possession, and a trip to the line for Styles and a jumper from Ahamadou Fofana set the score at 24-19 with 9:24 to go.
Fofana caught fire down the stretch in the first, knocking down four of his five first-half shots including two from beyond the arc.
The Hawks got in foul trouble early, putting the Monarchs on the line 11 times in the first half. ODU made five free throws in the final 6:24 of the first half.
A Fofana trey and a Pollard layup brought the margin within five, a gap that Tuka Nugent cut the score to once again with 1:58 to play in the half.
At the break, Old Dominion led 40-33. Fofana led the Hawks in scoring with 10 points, with Pollard close behind with eight points and a team-high four rebounds.
The second half was one of several big runs. The Monarchs opened the second half with an 8-3 run, setting the score at 48-36. Chace Davis knocked down a three to end the run, but ODU responded with a three of their own to make it 51-39.
The Hawks responded with a 7-0 run of their own, courtesy of a two-for-two trip to the charity stripe for Styles, a three from Kohen Thompson and a Da'Shawn Phillip basket. The rally cut the defecit to five, 51-46, with 13:32 to play.
Old Dominion followed with a 10-0 run, broken with 9:58 to play via a made free throw from Styles. Styles went on a run of his own after that, adding a three and a lay-in to make it 65-52 with just under eight minutes to play.
The two squads went blow-for-blow throughout the remainder of the contest, with the Monarchs outscoring the Hawks 16-13 over the final 7:30.
"We've got to give our respect to our opponent tonight," Crafton said. "They did what they do well, which is rebound the basketball."
The Hawks were not without their highlight performers. Styles led the team with 18 points, finishing 4-7 from the field and burying three from range in the effort. Pollard was close behind, with 16 points and 6 rebounds in the game.
Fofana finished third in scoring with 10 points and a trio of assists. Phillip finished with five points and a team-high five assists.
In a game where rebounding was key, the Hawks were outrebounded 44-23 overall.
"This was a game of toughness on the glass, which is what they do well and we didn't do a great job of stopping it," Crafton said.
The Hawks return to action on Saturday, November 12 in a Homecoming matchup with Bryn Athyn College. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
