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Jan. 13, 2003 12/18/2002 - "UMES SCORES SEASON HIGH IN LOSS TO COLONIALS" PRINCESS ANNE, MD- The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Fighting Hawks (0-7, 0-0 MEAC) played only their second home game of the season tonight and were hoping for that first win. They could not overcome the sizzling shooting of Robert Morris University (3-2, 0-1 Northeast) who shot 66.7 % from the field in the game, including a 76.2 % second half.
Tee Trotter again led all scorers with 26 points, 20 coming in the first half. Didier Socka stepped it up as well netting 15 points and collecting a game high seven rebounds. Aaron Wellington and Jermaul Akanbi both added eight for the Hawks.
UMES won all the statistical categories in the loss. They collected two more blocks then RMU, one more steal, two more assists, three less turnovers, and kept the rebounding margin even at 25. They even shot better at the charity stripe shooting 17-20 for the game, slightly better than RMU's 19-23. The problem was that they couldn't counter the scorching shooting of the Colonials. UMES shot a respectable 46.3 % for the game, but it could not compare to RMU's 34 for 51 shooting.
The Hawks took the early lead on a jumper by Trotter, but the Colonial's Maurice Carter knocked down a three to give them the one point lead. UMES would cut it to a 7-8 deficit at the 17-minute mark on a three by Trotter but never got closer. A made lay-up by Aaron Thomas at the buzzer gave RMU the 44-35 lead at half time.
UMES opened the second half with a strong defensive effort and Socka would knock down two free throws to cut the lead to seven. Unfortunately for the Hawks, RMU adjusted to Trotter who only mustered six points the whole second half. UMES would cut it again to seven points at the 16:28 mark on a three-pointer by Wellington, but it would never get that close again. Behind the strong play of Chaz McCrommon and Bobby Davenport, who both scored career highs with 19 and ten points respectively, RMU would take the lead to as many as 23 points. Carter would add 21 for Robert Morris to lead his team in scoring while Thomas would get 16 points of his own. DaMarcus Ellis also added 12 points to make it five Colonials in double figures.
"We just have a young team," said Head Coach Thomas Trotter. "We put the load on Tee and when they shut him down nobody stepped up. It is not that we played that bad. We scored a season high, beat them in almost every category, but our older guys have to take a leadership role on defense. We let them shoot the lights out."
The Hawks have a much-needed break with ten days of rest coming before the host the Hartford University Hawks on December 28. Game time is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. in the William P. Hytche Athletic Center.
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