DOVER, Delaware — An overwhelming defensive effort helped the University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team earn a 64-58 victory over Delaware State in the 116th installment of the Route 13 Rivalry on Thursday, March 2 at Memorial Hall.
The Hawks wrap the regular season at 17-12 (9-5 MEAC), boasting just the fourth Division I winning record for the program in the last 50 years. The last came eight years ago in the 2014-15 season. Before that was the 1993-94 season which saw the Hawks finish 16-12, and the first was the famed 27-2 squad from 50 years ago, the 1973-74 NIT team.
The win also locked UMES into the fourth seed of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament, slotting the Hawks in for a date with Morgan State on Thursday, March 6.
"This was a scrappy game that came down to the wire," Hawks coach Jason Crafton said. "I love how we closed it out and battled. With all the injuries we have right now, multiple guys really stepped up. Total team win."
The Hawks opened the contest the way they'd like to start every game, by turning a steal on the Hornets first possession into a transition dunk. It was Dionte Johnson who swiped the ball, finding Chace Davis on the break for the finish.
The two sides took the phrase "game of runs" to a whole new level in the first 20 minutes.
UMES scored the first four points of Thursday's contest before Delaware State responded with a 4-0 run of their own. The Hawks promptly snapped off a 9-2 run spanning just over three minutes to take a 13-6 lead, but the Hornets put up an 11-2 run of their own over the next four minutes to jump ahead, 17-15.
UMES staked its claim on the next six minutes of action. The Hawks scored 13 points and held the Hornets without a made field-goal in the stretch, leading 28-18 with 4:30 remaining in the first, but DSU stole that final 4:30 with a 12-0 run to lead 30-28 at the break.
The MEAC foes traded baskets in the opening minutes of the second half, splitting the first 16 points scored in the period 8-8. The Hornets scored six straight points in 31 seconds of game time, but UMES pieced together a 12-2 run to jump back in front, 48-46.
Davis and Zion Styles hit important threes in the minutes that followed to stave off pressure from Delaware State. Holding on to a four point lead, the Hawk defense put together a key sequence of three steals in 30 seconds that led to a Davis layup.
The Hawks made key shots down the stretch to prevent the runs they surrendered earlier in the affair. DSU brought the contest within 10 points late, but failed to come within eight as UMES continued to find the bottom of the basket.
Kevon Voyles dropped a game-high 22 points in the win while piling up five pickpockets. Nathaniel Pollard Jr. finished Thursday's contest with a career-high 16 rebounds while adding eight points.
Davis dropped 13 points with three makes from range, while adding three assists and two boards. Styles scored nine points and added three rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals.
The Hawks secured 15 steals in the win and forced 26 Hornet turnovers. The strong defensive showing locked UMES atop the nation at 11.0 steals per game and second in Division I forcing 18.8 turnovers a night in the regular season.
"The 26 forced turnovers have to be the story of the night," Crafton said. "Everyone was locked in to the scout."
The win on Thursday night was also the 80th of head coach Jason Crafton's coaching career.
The next time the Hawks take the floor, it will be at Norfolk Scope Arena in the MEAC Tournament. UMES is scheduled to battle Morgan State in the opening round of the tourney on Thursday, March 9 at 6 p.m.
