Hawks’ streak snapped at three by Tigers
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore battled back from as many as 13 points down, took its first lead of the second half with just over 9 minutes to go and held the lead (75-74) as late as the 5:15 mark of the second half on Monday against Savannah State.
But it was the Tigers (10-12, 7-2 MEAC) who came out on top 87-82.
“We didn’t play smart,” head coach Bobby Collins said. “And we were still in the game. That was a very talented team. They can really shoot the ball. They shot over 40 3’s tonight and they had us shooting the same way (35). We hit some, but Isaac Taylor wasn’t effective, Bakari Copeland wasn’t effective.
“We told Bakari that he has got to play consistent because the last game that he gave us made us spoiled, so we want him to play that way all the time.”
Copeland (Decatur, Georgia) finished with 14 points and five rebounds.
The Hawks (7-15, 4-3 MEAC) got double-digit scoring from five different players including double doubles by both Dontae Caldwell (Santa Ana, California) and Derrico Peck (Atlanta, Georgia).
Caldwell, a sophomore wing, scored 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting pulled down 12 rebounds and added a pair of assists. It was his first career double-double.
Peck, a graduate student, posted his second career double-double with 12 points and 11 boards to go with a block and a steal. It was his third straight game with double-digit scoring.
Taylor (Wachapreague, Virginia) scored 10 points in 24 minutes and grabbed four rebounds to go with a pair of blocks.
Junior Ryan Andino (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) scored 15 points on 5-of-16 shooting — all from 3-point range.
“We took 35 3’s and I don’t think that is where we want to be,” Collins said. “Dino didn’t make one in the second half. He was 5-for-12 in the first half. He didn’t get to the free throw line, so he wasn’t very effective for us.”
Savannah boasts the top offense in the MEAC, scoring 85 points per game coming in. The Tigers made 13-of-43 3-point attempts and were 22-of-27 from the free throw line (81 percent). Savannah State scored 25 points off 17 Hawks turnovers and its bench outscored the Shore’s 28-18.
The Hawks were 11-of-35 from behind the arc and converted just 11-of-19 from the free throw line (58 percent).
“In this league, you have to play your best,” Collins said. “You have to be smart. You have to be disciplined. We were up five and Thomas (Rivera) gets a technical, which is a run killer and we just didn’t score for the next two or three possessions.”
The Hawks will next travel to Hampton on Wednesday (Jan. 1) at 7:30 p.m.
