Texas tops Hawks in final non-conference match up

 
SUMMARY
 
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks dropped their final non-conference game of the year in a 94-71loss to the Texas Longhorns on Monday
 

 
THE SCORE
 
Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (4-13) - 71
Texas Longhorns (9-4) - 94
 

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

 
Texas opened the contest making their first five shots from the field and took an early 11-5 lead. The Hawks were able to turn up the defensive pressure and held the Longhorns to just 1 of 10 from the field. Trailing by as many as 11 in the first 20 minutes of play, UMES used a balance offensive attack with key shot making by Justin Monden, Jaden Cooper and Joseph Locandro. Locandro made three shots from beyond the arc including a make infront of the Texas bench late in the half to cut the deficit down to six, 40-34. Monden and Cooper added seven points each in the first half to help keep the Hawks within striking distance.

 
Locandro opened the second half scoring with a layin to bring UMES to within four. The Longhorns responded with a 10-2 run which included a key flagrant foul call on Locandro to send the Hawks leading scorer to the bench with four fouls with over 16 minutes to play. UMES never fully recovered from that point on. The Longhorns maintained a double-digit edge for the remainder of the contest, leading by as many as 24 with 3:47 remaining. Texas remained in control down the stretch on their way to the 23-point win.
 
 

 
 
BY THE NUMBERS

 
The Hawks concluded a seven game road stretch on Monday. UMES did not play a hoe game throughout the month of December.

 
The UMES effort was highlighted by Joseph Locandro's 12 points in 21 minutes of play. Jaden Cooper had 11 points and seven rebounds while Zion Obanla added 10 points.

 
Texas had two players score twenty plus points in Jordan Pope and Matas Vokietaitis. Pope had 21 points while Vokietaitis finished with a game-high 22 points and eight rebounds.

 
Texas converted 31-of-42 free throws while the Hawks were 15-of-21 from the line.

 
UMES was 0-7 in the month of December.
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH CLEO HILL, JR


"I think we did a good job of sharing the ball in the first half and remaining physical throughout the game. We installed some new things and did a good job of executing in those situations. Unfortunately, we fouled too much on the defensive end. Combining that with the size of Texas upfront, the score got away from us midway through the second half. Texas grabbed the momentum and took control."

 
"I am proud of the effort tonight from all eleven guys tonight. We fought throughout the night and we will take some of the positives from tonight into conference play next month."

 
"We have shown throughout non-conference play that we have the potential to play some high level basketball. As we move forward, we have to find ways to extend our good stretches and cut down on the mistakes. We need to find ways to turn four or five minutes of good basketball into six or seven minute stretches. I think we can do that and compete with anyone if we do."

 
"We have seen pretty much every skill set and style of play during our non-conference schedule and I think it prepares us well for MEAC play. We should be ready."




 
UP NEXT


The Hawks begin MEAC play on Jan. 3 at home against Morgan State.