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Dec. 18, 2004
THIBODAUX, LA - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) men's basketball team struggled defensively allowing the Nicholls State University (NSU) Colonels to outscore them 100-66 in non-conference action at Stopher Gym. NSU shot 52.4 percent from the field and an incredible 53.8 percent from behind the arc to reach the century mark for the first time in six seasons. Jason Wilkins paced Nicholls State (3-5) with a career high 26 points, going 8-12 from three-point land including five in the first half. Three other Colonels scored in double figures as Willie Depron had ten points while Adonis Gray and BJ Searles had 16 and 14 respectively, both off the bench. UMES (1-6) played well offensively shooting 41.7 percent from the field and got a career high 18 points from senior Jareem Dowling (U.S. Virgin Islands/Cecil C.C.). Dowling went 6-11 from the field and collected five boards. Jason McKinnon (Chicago, Ill./Kennedy-King C.C.) and Corey Brown (Ruthville, Va./Mott C.C.) also had double figures with 12 and ten respectively. McKinnon led all players with seven boards. The trouble was not on the offensive end but defensively, as the Hawks allowed 11 offensive boards and key shots at key times. UMES was outscored on the break 16-4, many coming off of 19 Hawk turnovers, NSU got 22 points from those. UMES forced 15 Colonel turnovers, resulting in 14 points. The Hawks never led in the game getting down six early but cut it to two at the 16:25 mark on a Ryan Leak (Jamaica N.Y./Bayside) lay-in. They allowed the lead to again grow to six but a McKinnon lay-up cut it to two at 13:08. Nicholls State got a lay-up from Shawn King at the 9:42 mark to make it an eight point lead. Back to back baskets by Dowling, a jumper and a three-pointer, would make it a three-point game at the 8:38 mark. After that it was all NSU. The Colonels went on a 31-8 run to close the half sparked by five three-pointers.
The Hawks got inspired second half play from Brown who had ten of his 12 in the period and from Louis Brookins (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook) who added seven of his career-high nine points. "Nicholls State was well-prepared," said Head Coach Larry Lessett. "They shot the ball extremely well." UMES takes Sunday and Monday off and travels to Texas where they play TCU on Tuesday and Baylor on Wednesday, December 21 and 22. |
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