PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team overcame a nine-point margin at the half, but ultimately fell to the visiting Norfolk State Spartans on Saturday, February 11 at the Hytche.
"Proud of how our guys overcame the halftime deficit and took the lead late in the game," Hawks coach Jason Crafton said. "With a shortened roster and foul trouble all game, different guys stepped up. That was great to see."
The billing lived up to expectations from the tip. A competitive first six minutes saw the teams knotted at 11-11 before the Hawks scored four straight. The Spartans responded with a 5-0 run of their own to lead 16-15 with nearly eight minutes gone.
Six lead changes later, Norfolk State found themselves ahead 25-23 with 8:28 to play. Each side parried the other over the next four minutes, with the visitors holding a 32-31 lead with 4:41 to play.
The Spartans finished the half on a 9-1 run to take lead 41-32 at the break, but UMES retook the floor with a purpose. Two free throws from Da'Shawn Phillip opened the run for the hosts before Zion Styles forced a turnover that led to a Phillip three-ball. In 56 seconds, the Hawks sliced the gap to four.
Norfolk held their ground for a couple of minutes, but a transition jam from Styles and another spot-up trey from Phillip brought UMES within one. The Hawks tied the game two minutes later, the score sitting at 46-46 with 12:49 to play.
UMES erased three leads of three or more points in the next four minutes and the game was once again knotted up, 54-54. Another four minutes passed, and the score was tied again at 63-63.
The next two minutes and change saw no scores, but Norfolk began to swing the game in their favor soon after. A pair of baskets from Joe Bryant Jr. gave the visitors a five-point lead and, despite their best efforts, the Hawks were unable to slim the margin within three for the remainder of the contest.
Five Hawks reached double-digits in the loss, with Phillip's 20-point surge spearheading the offense. Chace Davis scored 11, while Styles, Tuka Nugent and Nathaniel Pollard Jr. all scored 10 on the night.
Pollard recorded his sixth double-double of the season, collecting 12 Hawk rebounds in the effort. Nugent added four rebounds and three dimes to his scoring total and Styles added three assists.
The Hawks shot 42 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc. UMES took advantage of their chances from the stripe, hitting 21 of their 27 opportunities (78 percent).
The hosts collected 10 steals on Monday night, but were out-rebounded 35-27 by Norfolk State. UMES forced 18 turnovers and scored 28 points off of them.
"We needed to rebound the ball better collectively to get the win," Crafton said. "We will learn from the film and get ready for a very talented Howard team on Monday."
That duel with the Bison is slated for 7:30 p.m. from Burr Gymnasium, but will tip 30 minutes after the women's game has concluded as usual.
