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Jan. 14, 2008
ORANGEBURG, S.C. - Despite jumping out to an early lead the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) could not hang on as they dropped a 68-60 decision to South Carolina State University (SCSU) on Monday night in the S-H-M Memorial Center. UMES (2-14, 0-2 MEAC) would cut the lead to six on a Marc Davis (Baltimore, Md./Walbrook H.S.) jumper with 1:26 remaining in the game but that was the closest they would come as SCSU (5-11, 1-1 MEAC) clinched the win on a Robert Baker dunk with 29 seconds left. Both teams went scoreless the first two minutes of the game but a Thomas Bookman lay-in would end the draught for the Bulldogs. The Hawks finally got on the board three and a half minutes into the game with a Milutin Mirjacic (Uzice, Serbia/Uzice Economic School/Borac Cacek) tip-in. The Hawks would take their largest lead of the game on a Denzel Jackson (Philadelphia, Pa./Lincoln H.S.) lay-in to make it 12-6 with 12:26 remaining in the first half. However, the Bulldogs would use a 12-4 run capped off by a Carrio Bennett three-pointer to take the lead back, 18-16, with just under 10 to play in the half. BJ Nimocks (Detroit, Mich./Cloud County C.C.) completed a three-point play to give the Hawks a 19-18 lead, but an Everett Spencer jumper would make it a one point game and give SCSU the lead for good with 7:09 left in the first half. A Davis jumper cut the lead to 31-24 at the break. UMES outshot the Bulldogs in the first half 35.7-34.3 percent but failed to make a three-pointer, while SCSU made just three-of-15. SCSU took control early in the second half and would open up their lead to 15, their largest of the game, on a Jason Johnson lay-in with 8:06 to go in the game. The Hawks would chip away at the lead and make it interesting late but to no avail. The UMES scoring attack was led by a pair of freshmen in Jackson and Davis with 13 points apiece. Davis also added a career-high five steals to go along with five rebounds and five assists. Ed Tyson (Baltimore, Md./Walbrook H.S.), the conference's second leading scorer, was held to 12 points on four-of-15 shooting. Gary Lee (Flint, Mich./Northwestern University) in his first start of the season added nine points, while Mirjacic making his third start had seven points and a career-high six rebounds. Jason Johnson had 16 points and 12 rebounds, including five offensive boards, to lead the Bulldogs offense. Bennett also had 16 points to tie Johnson for the game-high, while Baker chipped in with 12 points off the bench. UMES was only outrebounded, 44-39, despite the absence of starting center Aleksandar Popovic (Novi Sad, Serbia/Weatherford College) who missed the game with a foot injury. The Hawks were also outshot 42.9-38.3 percent from the field, and had more turnovers, 16-14, however; they did finish with more points in the paint, 30-22, and second chance points, 16-11. Both teams struggled from beyond the arc as the Bulldogs made just five-of 19 for 26.3 percent, while the Hawks sank just two-of-14 for 14.3 percent. In addition, both teams shot just above 50 percent from the free-throw line. UMES will now return home to the friendly confines of the William P. Hytche Athletic Center to take on North Carolina A&T on Saturday, January 19. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 E.T. and can be heard on WTGM-AM 960 The Team or live on the internet at www.umeshawks.com. |
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