Hawks unable to keep up with nationally ranked Illinois
 
SUMMARY

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks were stifled by the 25^th ranked Illinois Illini on Saturday, 87-40.

 
THE SCORE

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (2-6) – 40
No. 25 Illinois Fighting Illini (4-1) – 87

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Hawks struggled from the field throughout the game. UMES missed the first nine shots before Evan Johnson knocked down a contested jumper and Jalen Ware converted from the baseline to keep UMES within two points, 6-4, by the 14:55 mark.

With the score knotted, 8-8, Illinois suddenly took control with a 17-0 run before back-to-back baskets by Johnson ended the long Illini run. Down 28-12 with 3:43 left in the first half, the Hawks surrendered a 7-0 to fall behind, 35-15, at half.
Illinois opened the second half with an 13-2 run to take a commanding lead. The Hawks fell behind by as many as 52 while IU's Will Riley made six straight shot attempts to help balloon the Illini lead. Illinois went on to cruise to a final score of 87-40.
 
 
BY THE NUMBERS
 
The Hawks were held to a season-low 15 of 68 from the field (22.1%),
 
Will Riley led Illinois with a game-high 19 points, making seven of 11 shot attempts.
 
UMES forward Jalen Ware led the Hawk scoring with 10 points. He also finished with a season-high five steals.
 
UMES was outscored in the paint, 42-6.
 
UMES leading scorer Ketron "KC" Shaw was held scoreless in the first half and finished with seven points.
 

COMMENTS FROM COACH CLEO HILL, JR
 
"Illinois plays the game the right way. They play a very disciplined brand of basketball and we need to learn from this experience."
 
"We did not do a great job of sharing the basketball. We will address it and be better in that area moving forward."
 
"Playing in these types of collegiate basketball atmospheres on the road will be good for our guys in the long run. We will look back on these types of games as opportunities to develop."
 
"This entire road trip is about accountability and learning. We have a quick turnaround against another nationally ranked team. We can't hold our heads down. We will look at the film and find ways to get better."

 
NEXT UP

The Hawks face another nationally ranked opponent on Monday at No. 20 Arkansas