UMES Left Heartbroken After Loss to Hartford

PRINCESS ANNE, MD- The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Fighting Hawks (0-8, 0-0 MEAC) played their last home game of the calendar year tonight when they hosted the University of Hartford Hawks (4-5, 0-0 America East). The Hawks were trying to capture their first win of the season as they battled another Hawk squad in Hartford. The Hawks of Hartford were looking to avenge a 61-57 loss to UMES from last year in Connecticut. UMES came up short with a 58-59 loss to Hartford.

UMES junior guard Tee Trotter was held in check by tenacious defense and was only allowed eight points, over 13 below his season average. Picking up the slack was freshman Aaron Wellington who scored a game high 15 points. Kenyatta Rowel and Javes Wiggins added 11 and ten points respectively to keep the game close. Rowel also led the Hawks in rebounding pulling down four.

It was a close game from the start with it seeing nine lead changes and five ties. No team ever had more then a seven-point lead. Every category was close but rebounding, which Hartford dominated with a 41 to 23 margin. Offensive rebounds killed the Hawks getting only 15 to Hartford’s 29. Both benches played well with UH’s totaling 30 to UMES’s 29. Defense was tough as no team scored on fast breaks and UMES led the steal category six to five. As usual, Maryland Eastern-Shore did a great job taking care of the ball turning it over only nine times and forcing Hartford into 14.

It was a three-point game at the half with Hartford taking the 29-26 lead into the locker room. UMES came roaring out tying the game at 31 with a jumper and three-pointer by Wellington after Hartford had made a lay-up of their own. UMES then ran the lead to six on another three by Wellington and one by Trotter. Rowel had a key block in that series and Hartford was reeling. After a lay-up by Trevor Goode, Wellington would make another jumper to keep the lead at six. The Hawks of Hartford would go on a nine point run with a lay-up by Wayne McClinton and two three-pointers by Aaron Cook. Goode when then make one of two from the line and the Hartford lead would stand at three. The game would go back and forth from there and the game would be tied at 55 with 1:28 remaining. Trotter would knock down a three at the 1:14 mark to give UMES a three-point lead. Then, with 54 seconds left Goode would make a lay-up to cut it to one. After UMES would run the clock down Trotter would miss a three-pointer that would circle the cylinder and give the rebound to Jerell Parker who would take it down the floor and make a tough shot in the lane with three seconds remaining. UMES would get the ball to half-court where they were fouled and then inbound it to Trotter who would take a three that would miss. The crowd wanted a foul as he was knocked down but the horn sounded giving Hartford the 59-58 win.

Hartford would see Aaron Cook lead them with 15 points and Pierre Johnson who would add 11.

UMES will have to wait until New Year’s Eve to get win number one as the travel to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh for a 1:00 PM game. They are home on January 4th as they host Hampton University with a 4:00 PM start following the Lady Hawks at 2:00 PM.