PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team soars into the City of Brotherly Love to face the Temple University Owls on Tuesday, December 20. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. with live coverage on ESPN+.
The Hawks (4-7) travel to The Liacouras Center following a 95-55 home victory over Clarks Summit on Saturday, December 17. Temple (6-6) enters the matchup following consecutive road losses to Penn and Ole Miss.
About the Hawks
The Hawks set several high marks against the Defenders on Saturday. In addition to the season-best 95 points scored, UMES recorded new single-game highs in steals (18), assists (18), and made threes (12).
All 13 players etched their names in the scoring column in the win. Kevon Voyles led the way with 15 points, one of five Hawks wrapping the contest in double-digits.
Nathaniel Pollard Jr. logged his first double-double of the season and the third of his UMES career, posting 13 points and 13 rebounds. Eight of the 13 were offensive boards. Pollard also contributed three assists and three steals.
Zion Styles, who leads the Hawks averaging 11.3 points per game, scored 13 against Clarks Summit and added four steals, tying a career-high. Dionte Johnson entered double-digit figures for the first time as a Hawk, scoring 10 in the win.
Scouting the Owls
Tuesday's contest will serve as the final non-conference game of the season for Temple before traveling to East Carolina University to open American Athletic Conference play.
The Owls are led by Khalif Battle, a redshirt sophomore guard who suffered a season-ending injury after seven games last season. Battle averages 19 points, with his season-high 27 points coming in a 40-minute winning effort against VCU on December 3.
"Temple has great size and athleticism, and elite guard play," head coach Jason Crafton said. "Containing penetration and eliminating their three-point attack will be paramount."
Forward Jamille Reynolds, who leads the team in rebounding (6.3) and ranks third in scoring (11.1) will miss Tuesday's matchup due to injury. Reynolds led the team with a field-goal percentage over 60 percent and scored in double-digit figures in seven appearances.
The Hawks and Owls have battled once before on November 10 of last season. Temple took home a 72-49 victory.
Battle finished with a game-high 22 points for the Owls in that matchup. Da'Shawn Phillip led the Hawks with 11 points in the effort.
Making the road trip after playing on Saturday, the Hawks will look for quality minutes from the bench to supplement the starting five on Tuesday evening.
"We'll need all of our players ready to contribute in this game with such a quick turnaround," Crafton said.
The 7 p.m. game will be available for streaming on ESPN+ here: https://bit.ly/3HPnynW.
