HAWKS ERASE EIGHT-POINT SECOND-HALF DEFICIT; TOP FAMU, 54-50
TYLER BIRNBAUM 1/24/09

Collegiate Men's Basketball
"HAWKS ERASE EIGHT-POINT SECOND-HALF DEFICIT; TOP FAMU, 54-
50"
Cone-from-behind win is UMES' fourth straight at home

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball
team picked up its fourth consecutive home win, 54-50, over Florida A&M at the
William P. Hytche Athletic Center Saturday.

The Hawks were led by junior forward Neal Pitt (Fort Washington, Md.) with 20 points
and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season it was the third straight game
that Pitt had 20 points or more.

UMES (5-11, 2-3 MEAC) trailed by as many as eight with 11:50 remaining in the second
half before tying the game on a driving layup by Keishawn Mayes (Warrenton, N.C.)
and holding on over the final 4:44 for the win.

Gary Lee (Flint, Mich.) was the only other UMES player in double figures with 12
points. He also pulled down six boards. Tyler Hines (Sicklerville, N.J.) chipped in with
eight points and seven boards of his own after missing three games with an ankle injury.

"I know, and I tell the guys this all the time, you've got protect your home court and
we've done that," UMES head coach Frankie Allen said. "And if we continue to do that,
that will put us right in the thick of the MEAC race. … So, we've got some goals ahead
of us. We know it was a great win today."

A tight first half saw neither squad get out to a lead more than 10. FAMU's (6-11, 4-2)
biggest was eight when Yannick Crowder converted one-of-two free throws to make it,
31-23, with 3:25 left. The closed the gap to four by the break.

The Hawks shot a solid 11-of-24 from the field (45.8 percent) from the floor. The
Rattlers were 12-for-30 (40 percent) in the opening 20 minutes.

The teams traded baskets in the early stages of the second before a 6-2 run from the
visitors over the next five minutes extended their lead to 43-35 on a Lamar Twitty layup.

The Hawks blazed the comeback trail from there, outscoring FAMU, 19-7, for the rest of
the game.

UMES put forth a strong defensive effort and was forced to make a stand in the final
seconds to preserve the win.

Up 50-50, with 14 seconds to go, Hines stole the ball from FAMU's Dale Hughes and
Marc Davis (Baltimore, Md.) knocked down a free throw to put the game out of reach.

"Last year and in years past, these kids may have dropped their heads and felt like, 'oh,
we can't win,'" Allen said. "[But] they found a way to win and I'm really proud of that,
that even when we missed a free throw, we defended down the stretch.

"Their effort, their hustle has been some that I've felt I can hang my hat on," he added.

UMES finished 19-of-46 (41.3 percent) from the floor and held a 43-33 advantage in
rebounding, handing FAMU its first loss in five games.

The Rattlers were 17-of-53 (32.1 percent) for the game from the field with Twitty posting
14 points and seven rebounds, both team highs.

UMES hosts Bethune-Cookman Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m.