PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team battles Morgan State in the opening round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday (March 9), with tip slated for 6 p.m. from Norfolk Scope Arena.
The Hawks (17-12, 9-5 MEAC) and Bears (14-14, 7-7 MEAC) will face off for the second time in 10 days after Morgan defeated UMES at the Hytche Center on February 27.
Checking on the Hawks
Zion Styles and Nathaniel Pollard Jr. have been essential for the Hawks on both ends of the floor, and they each received Postseason All-MEAC honors for their efforts.
Pollard, who leads the conference in rebounding and ranks third on the team in scoring, was an All-MEAC Second Team selection. Pollard has recorded six double-doubles this season and ranks 13th in the nation averaging nearly four offensive rebounds per game.
Styles was named to both the All-MEAC Third Team and the All-Defensive Team. Styles leads the Hawks in scoring and has averaged nearly 13 points a night in conference play, while collecting 53 steals this season and averaging 1.8 steals per game (3rd in MEAC).
Da'Shawn Phillip has also been a key player for the Hawks. Phillip is the team's second leading scorer averaging 10.1 a night, while also ranking third in rebounding and steals this season. The senior has taken care of the rock as well, collecting 49 assists to just 32 turnovers this season with nine zero-turnover efforts.
The Hawks also have recent strong performers in Kevon Voyles and Chace Davis.
Voyles scored a game-high 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting while swiping five steals in the team's regular-season finale victory over Delaware State in Dover. Davis has found his shot of late, shooting an even 50 percent from the floor and nearly 42 percent from three in the last five games.
The Hawks concluded the regular season ranked #1 in steals per game (11.0) and second in turnovers forced per game (18.8). The only team to force more turnovers a night than UMES was their Thursday opponent, Morgan State (18.9).
Scouting the Bears
Morgan State leads the series against UMES 19-10 since 2005. That is in large part due to a stretch from March 1, 2005 to February 21, 2011 that saw the Bears claim nine out of 10 contests. Since then, the matchups have been fairly split, with Morgan holding a 10-8 lead.
The squads split their games against each other this season, with each team winning their road contest. UMES knocked off Morgan in Baltimore in the first go-around, 72-58, before the Bears defeated the Hawks at home last week.
Senior guard Isaiah Burke has been Morgan's motor, averaging 36.4 minutes a night in 14 conference starts. His averages of 19.9 points per game and 3.2 three-pointers made per game each sit atop the MEAC in conference play.
Kamron Hobbs and Will Thomas have each stepped into bigger roles in MEAC play, with both players averaging 9.9 points in league action.
"We will be ready to go to war," Hawks coach Jason Crafton said. "This has become a rivalry game and we know what's at stake."
Thursday's matchup is available to be streamed on ESPN+ by visiting https://bit.ly/3JA3s1z.
