Second half run by South Carolina State grounds Hawks in Monday's 78-64 loss


SUMMARY

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks were unable to battle back from a second half South Carolina State run in a 78-64 loss on Monday night.
 
 
THE SCORE

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (4-15; 0-3) – 64
South Carolina State Bulldogs (9-10; 3-1) – 78
 
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 

The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 10-4 lead. UMES responded with a 8-0 run sparked by six points from MEAC leading scorer Ketron "KC" Shaw to go up 12-10 with 11:52 to go in the opening half. The defensive efforts of both teams resulted in a scoring drought of over four minutes before a Kyrell Shaw layin put UMES up four at the eight minute mark. A D'Shay Wright jumper broke the scoreless run for SCSU at the 7:37 mark and another layup by Wright with 6:06 to play tied up the game, 16-16.
 

The offensive pace quickened over the next three minutes a made jumper from Maurice Vassel and a three pointer by Kyrell Shaw put the Hawks up by two, 22-20, with 3:25 left in the half. SCSU's Davion Everett poured in six points in the final three minutes of the quarter to help give the Bulldogs a 28-27 edge at half.
 

SCSU seized the early momentum in the second half with a 10-2 run to go up 38-30 at the 15:41 mark. The Hawks battled back to make it a three-point game, 40-37, after a three point make by Hassan Perkins. A three point play by KC Shaw tied the game up, 40-40, on the next UMES possession before free throws by Mitchell Taylor but the Bulldogs back up by two with 13:45 remaining. A series of exchanged free throws resulted in the Hawks claiming a narrow 43-42 lead with 11:40 left. The Bulldogs responded with a 13- 0 run as Everett made five of six attempts from the floor to give his team a 53-43 lead with under 10 minutes to go. A scoreless timeframe for the Hawks lasted nearly three minutes before a Christopher Flippin make at the 8:46 mark brought UMES to with ten, 55-45.
 

The Bulldogs responded again as Omar Croskey knocked down a shot from beyond the arc and converted in the paint to extend the lead to fifteen. With 3:43 to go, the Bulldogs took their largest lead of the night, 72-50, before cruising to a 78-64 victory.
 
 
 

BY THE NUMBERS
 

UMES was 19-for-31 from the free throw line (61.3%) while SCSU converted 30-of-39 (76.9%).
 
SCSU held a 21-14 edge in points scored off turnovers.
 
The Bulldog bench outscored the Hawk reserves, 41-13.
 
With second leading scorer Evan Johnson ruled inactive on Monday, freshman guard Kyrell Shaw stepped up with a team-high 19 points along with four rebounds.
 
KC Shaw added 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
 
UMES forward Christopher Flippin finished with 12 points and six rebounds.
 
Davion Everett led the Bulldogs in scoring with 21 points along with eight rebounds and four assists.
 
 
 

COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH CLEO HILL, JR.


"We played one of the best first halves all year but had too many mental lapses in the second half. We weren't able to consistency execute offensively in the second half and I thought that was a difference in the game."

"We just have to play much smarter and harder for a full forty minutes. Moving forward, we need to have more poise in the big moments of the game. What we work on in practice and talk about in the film room and on the scouting reports has to start carrying over into games. I think once we do that, we can find success."

"With this extended break, we will take advantage by looking at film, focus on conditioning, and work on some new dynamics on both ends of the floor."
 
 
 
UP NEXT

The Hawks will have an extended break before hosting Delaware State on Saturday, January 25. For tickets, visit https://umeshawksports.com/sports/2024/10/14/TICKETS.aspx