DURHAM, North Carolina — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore held the lead for more than 27 minutes of Monday's battle at North Carolina Central. But in a game that featured nine lead changes it was the Eagles who came out on top in the end 82-77 despite some big improvement and some big numbers from UMES.

"We had some really good plays and some really bad plays that cost us the game and I thought Central hit some really big shots," Batchelor said. "It is one to learn from. We came out focused and we had a great first quarter — first eight minutes. And I don't think we were really comfortable."

The Hawks (5-14, 1-4 MEAC) started out with a flurry of offense, held as much as a 14-point advantage and prevented an Eagles field goal until the 2:32 mark of the first quarter. N.C. Central (9-11, 3-2 MEAC) chipped the lead down to 21-11 by the end of the first and at the half had taken a 41-40 lead.

"Turnovers hurt us," Batchelor said. "And shot selection — particularly situational shot selection — hurt us. Things like being up five in a game that was going back-and-forth with a chance to take control of the game and we just didn't."

UMES turned the ball over 27 times in the game and were just 6-of-17 in the fourth quarter (35%) from the field. Despite six of those turnovers coming in the fourth quarter, the Hawks led by five points with 2:55 left and held on until the 1:05 mark when three free throws put Central on top.

The Hawks dominated on the glass 53-18, shot 85% from the free throw line (17-of-20) and 50% from the field in the game. But the Eagles balanced it out with a hot-shooting night from behind the arc (9-of-27) and the free throw line (25-of-32) and committed just 11 turnovers.

"As many mistakes as we made, I really think we got better from the experience tonight," Batchelor said. "I know we walked away feeling like that was one we let get away that we should have won."

Redshirt-junior Mahogany Lester (Virginia, Beach Virginia) and sophomore Ariana Seawell (The Bronx, New York) did almost all that they could to secure a win with each putting up a double-double. Seawell had 16 points — on 7-of-10 shooting — and 11 rebounds, while adding an assist, a block and a steal. Lester ripped down 14 rebounds to go with 15 points and had two blocks and an assist.

"Big play from our post players," Batchelor said. "We couldn't ask for a whole lot more from those two than what they have been giving us on a consistent basis."

The Hawks will next host Coppin State (4-15, 1-3 MEAC) on Saturday (Jan. 28) before traveling to Morgan State on Monday (Jan. 30). Things appear to be tightening up in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Coppin lost to Howard by just two points on Monday, while the Bears handed Norfolk State their first loss in conference play.

"At the end of the day, it's going to come down to who is playing the best basketball at the end of the season," Batchelor said. "We're 1-4 and we could very well be 4-1. We just have to figure it out. And figuring it out with a young team is a lot of pain."