Box Score SUMMARY: 

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks erased a 19-point second half deficit before falling in overtime in Saturday's 67-63 conference loss at Delaware State.




THE SCORE:

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (4-12; 1-3) - 63
Delaware State Hornets (10-9; 3-0) - 67
Location: Memorial Hall | Dover, DE


 
HOW IT HAPPENED


After jumping out to an early 7-4 lead, the Hawk offense went cold and without a point from the 17:48 mark until two Dionte Johnson free throws at 10:01. During the early UMES offensive struggles, DSU put together a 16-2 run to take a 20-9 lead. Behind the first half scoring of Deywilk Tavarez and Jevin Muniz, the Hornets built their lead up to 35-18 by halftime. Tavarez recorded 12 first half points while Muniz had eight. UMES forward Troy Hupstead totaled 10 of the Hawks' 18 first half points.

 
The DSU lead grew to 44-25 by the 15:31 mark of the second half. Baskets by Hupstead and Johnson sparked a 9-0 run to chop the Hornet lead back down to 10 with 13:06 to play. A put back by Hupstead at the 10 minute mark brought the Hawks to within single digits, 47-38. Hupstead scored the next points of the game on a reverse layup as the Hawks trailed by just six, 47-41, with 7:37 to go.

 
A Hupstead three pointer followed by baskets by Toby Nnadozie and Devon Ellis gave UMES its first lead, 48-47, with just under five minutes to play. Ellis converted in the paint again to put the Hawks up by three with 4:09 on the clock. DSU broke its scoring drought on a Martez Robinson basket.

 
The teams traded points down the stretch of regulation. A Hupstead basket with 22 seconds gave the Hawks a two point edge. DSU evened the score, 56-56, on a Muniz layin with 7.6 second left. A potential game winning shot by Tyler Mack hit the back of the rim as regulation expired and both teams went back to their benches to prepare for overtime.

 
DSU tallied the first four points of overtime to lead 60-56. The Hawks responded with a baskets from Elijah Wilson and Hupstead to tie the game back up, 60-60. Martaz Robinson drew a foul and knocked down free throws to put the Hornets up by two with 1:16 to play. Down by one with 44.8 seconds, UMES came up empty on their next offensive possession and sent DSU to the line for two more free throws. After DSU split a pair of free throws, Hupstead's game ended 23.8 seconds early as he picked up his fifth foul on an illegal screen call. Forced to foul, UMES sent Muniz to the line. Muniz converted both free throws to up the DSU lead to four, 67-63, with 17.2 seconds remaining.

 
The Hawks came away with no points on their final offensive possession as the final buzzer sounded.
 
 

BY THE NUMBERS

 
Hupstead led all players with 27 points to go along with nine rebounds. Hupstead made 10 of 15 shot attempts. Devon Ellis and Tyler Mack each recorded 11 points in the loss.

 
Martaz Robinson led the Hornets in scoring with 24 points. Deywilk Tavarez had 19 points and Jevin Muniz had 13 in the win.

 
DSU made 21 of 37 free throws while the Hawks converted 14 of 18 free throws.

 
Saturday's result snapped the Hawks' four game winning streak over DSU.

 
Saturday was the third overtime game for the Hawks this season. UMES is now 1-2 in overtime this season.


UMES remains winless on the road (0-11)
 

DSU extended their winning streak to four games.
 
 

COMMENTS FROM COACH JASON CRAFTON


"I am proud of the way we fought back from down nineteen. In these types of games on the road, we really would like to take care of business and close out the game in regulation. I thought we had a few opportunities to close out the game at the end of the second half."


"I thought we had a great performance from Troy Hupstead and some key plays from Devon Ellis and Dionte Johnson. As we move forward, we need to find more consistent play from our bench. In these close games that are decided by a possession or two, we have to have a more balanced team effort in order to win."


"We had some calls that didn't go our way tonight resulting in a large free throw disparity. We did a good job with free throws  tonight but we did not make enough trips to the line."


"We will learn from games like this and be better moving forward. We have a stretch of home games coming up beginning on Monday and we need to take advantage of being on our home court."

 
UP NEXT

The Hawks return home to the Hytche Athletic Center on Monday for a non-conference game against Queens (NY) College at 7 pm.