Hawks lose to Coppin State in overtime



SUMMARY: 
The Hawks erased a nine-point second half deficit and led by three before a buzzer beating Coppin State three pointer forced overtime. CSU scored the first six points of overtime and held on to beat the Hawks, 58-55.

OVERTIME RESULT:
Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (4-10; 1-1) – 55
Coppin State Eagles (2-14; 1-1) – 58
Locations: PEC Arena | Baltimore, Maryland

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hawks jumped out to an early 17-7 lead thanks to the hot start by Tyler Mack. Mack knocked down his first three attempts from three point range and added another three point play to score quick 12 points in the opening 11 minutes of play.
 
Up by 10 at the 11:17 mark of the first half, the Hawk offense suddenly went cold. UMES managed just one field goal on a Devon Ellis dunk over the final 11 minutes of the first quarter.
 
Free throws proved to the difference in the first half as UMES added three makes from the line in final 90 seconds of the half to take a 23-21 lead at the break.
 
The Hawks' first field goal of the second half came at the 17 minute mark on a Chace Davis drive. It would be the only points the Hawks managed to score until a Israel Yaw put back at the 11:20 mark.
 
While the UMES offensive woes continued through the second half, Coppin State took their first lead of the game at the 15:46 mark and extended their advantage to as many as nine, 36-27, at the 10:50 mark.
 
Free throws kept UMES in game as Davis, Ellis, and Troy Hupstead all managed to get to the line to bring UMES to within four, 36-32, at the 7:16 mark.
 
Davis finally found his mark from three-point range to knot the score at 37-37 at the four minute mark.
 
Point guard Dionte Johnson came up with big plays for the Hawks down the stretch of regulation, going four-for-four from the line, converting on a drive in the paint and coming up with a steal with 20 seconds left. After two Johnson free throws put the Hawks up 48-45, CSU forced overtime as Ryan Archery hit the game-tying three pointer as time expired.
 
The Eagles knocked down two three pointers to open the extra period to go up by six at with 3:14 on the clock. UMES managed just one basket during the first four minutes of overtime before a three pointer by Elijah Wilson and a lay in by Damani Claxton helped the Hawks cut the deficit down to 53-52 with 47 seconds left. CSU's Toto Fagbenle responded with a basket at the other end. After the Hawks came up empty on their next possession, the Eagles knocked down free throws to make it a five point lead with 16 seconds left. CSU added one more free throw to go back up by six with 10 seconds. A three pointer by Johnson at the end of overtime made the score 58-55 in favor of the Eagles.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
The Hawks shot a season-low 25% from the field (17-68).
 
Dionte Johnson scored 11 of his team-high 13 points in the final four minutes of regulation and overtime. Davis and Mack had 12 points each.
 
Hupstead recorded his sixth game of 10 or more rebounds while Ellis grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds. Hupstead is currently among the top rebounders in the nation with 9.0 rpg.
 
If the Hawks had held on for the win in regulation, the point total would have marked the lowest points scored for a team in a win in college basketball this season.

After scoring an early 12 points, Mack was held scoreless for the remainder of the contest.

The Hawks are now 0-9 on the road this season.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks travel to Howard on Saturday with the game scheduled to start at 4 pm.