Monday, February 11
Princess Anne, Md.
9:00 p.m.
Hampton University
62
at
68
Maryland - Eastern Shore
HU PIRATES SUFFER 68-62 LOSS AT THE HANDS OF UMES
2.12.08 | Men's Basketball
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – For the second time in as many games, turnovers played a key role in the demise of the Hampton University Pirates, who lost their second consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest, a 68-62 upset to last place University of Maryland Eastern Shore here on Monday.
The Pirates had entered the game in second place in the MEAC and just one game behind league-leading Morgan State University. Monday’s loss dropped Hampton to 13-9 overall and 7-3 in the conference. The UMES Hawks, meanwhile, won just their fourth game in 25 tries while improving to 2-8 in the conference.
“It was unacceptable to go through a game with eight offensive rebounds with our size. It showed me that we played with no heart tonight,” stated HU head coach Kevin Nickelberry.
Coming off a tough 67-58 loss to Delaware State University two nights earlier, the Pirates seemed poised to regroup as they seized a 33-26 lead at halftime. Amazingly, Hampton shot 87 percent from the free throw line in the opening half after struggling in that category much of the year.
In the second half, the Pirates led by as many as 13 points in the second half and seemingly had the game in control. But the Hawks had other thoughts, going on a 17-4 run in a six-minute span that cut Hampton’s lead to just one point. UMES then took the lead with 1:43 left in the game on a good free throw by Ed Tyson and they never look back. The Hawks went on to claim their second MEAC victory by six points.
The Pirates had a season-low 24 rebounds against UMES as they were outrebounded by the 41-to-24. Hampton also had 23 turnovers on the night.
“We had 23 turnovers tonight and they (UMES) turned those turnovers into 23 points,” said Nickelberry. “On top of that, we were out-rebounded and you cannot win ball games like that and right now we have to go back to square one. We have guys who think that they are better than what they really are, but it is my job to take them back to the basics going into this weekends match.”
The Pirates finished the game with three players in double figures, led by Rashad West’s 19 points. Theo Smalling finished with 11 points and Adrian Woodard had 10 points on the night.
UNES was led by Tyson, who finished with a game-high 24 points on the night. Ishmawiyl McFadden dropped in 14 on the Pirates.
The Pirates will be back in action on Saturday, February 16, as they host the Bulldogs of South Carolina State University at 6 p.m.
For more information, go to www.hamptonpirates.com or contact the HU Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5811.
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