FAMU knocked out of tourney with 2OT defeat

The Florida A&M men's basketball team came up short in double-overtime, losing 87-85 to Maryland-Eastern Shore in the first round of the MEAC Tournament in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Tuesday.

Eugene Harris' ballclub finishes the season 12-20. UMES (9-21) will play Hampton in the MEAC quarterfinals tonight at 9:30 p.m.

The Rattlers trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half, but closed the gap and went into halftime down by just three points at 30-27.

Maryland-Eastern wins in double overtime

Maryland-Eastern Shore worked through a little fatigue and found the energy to outlast Florida A&M 87-85 in double overtime Tuesday night in a first-round game of the MEAC men's tournament. Playing in front of about 800 at Joel Coliseum, the 10th-seeded Hawks made the right plays and made more free throws when they mattered most.

Point guard Kevin White finished with 22 points and seven assists, and UMES (9-21) advanced to play second-seeded Hampton in a quarterfinal scheduled for 9:30 tonight. White also made three key free throws in the second overtime, and Hillary Haley added 17 points and 10 rebounds. At the end of the game, with most of his post players fouled out, coach Frankie Allen of the Hawks had to improvise.

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Videographer: Mysterious910; FAMU's Cheerleaders --First Place MEAC Co-Ed Division Champions

Colorado Buffs Slog Through Easy Win Against Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks

BOULDER, CO - Colorado mostly went through the motions Wednesday night in dispatching outmanned Maryland Eastern Shore 92-65 at the Coors Events Center.

If there is an upside, this is it: Even in going through the motions against an inferior opponent, the motions might be getting better - a promising sign with Big 12 Conference play only 10 days away.

But first-year CU Coach Tad Boyle had trouble seeing it that way. He shouldered the blame for a lackluster start that seeped through most of the opening half until the Buffs got their heads, ah, back into their assignments.



UMES INCONSISTENT IN 92-65 LOSS AT COLORADO

BOULDER, Colo. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team showed a lot of fight but were overcome by inconsistency as they fell, 92-65, to the University of Colorado Wednesday night at the Coors Events Center.

Redshirt junior Hillary Haley (Oxon Hill, Md.) tallied 18 points in the loss on 7-of-12 shooting from the field. Haley also chipped in four rebounds and a steal on the night. Senior Kevin White (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added in 12 points while junior Dishawn Bradshaw (Baltimore, Md.) had 11 of his own. Tonight's game marks the third consecutive double-figure scoring effort by both Bradshaw and Haley.

The Hawks (3-9) were led in rebounding by junior Tyler Hines (Sicklerville, N.J.), who had seven in the contest (five defensive).

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UMES Hawks signs 6'-11" developing "Big Man"

UMES Hawks Coach Frankie Allen

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball head coach Frankie Allen has announced the signing of 6-11 center Olatunji Kosile from Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Miss. for the 2011-12 season. Kosile, who is known by his teammates and friends as TJ, averages 3.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game through seven contests for the Wolfpack this season.

"TJ is an excellent signee and he'll give us the size and strength that we need to compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference," stated Allen.

"His rebounding and defensive skills are formidable which will give us added strength on our front line. There is a tremendous wealth of potential in a player with his size, strength and ability and he is a very welcome addition into our program. We're excited to work with TJ and develop him into a quality Division I player."

Kosile inks with UMES

WESSON, Ms. - The game of basketball has taken Olatunji Kosile half way around the world. The game has taken the 6-11 center away from his home in Lagos, Nigeria, to the small town of Niceville, Fla. After playing one season for Northwest Florida State, Kosile has landed in the tiny town Wesson, suiting up to play this season for the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Wolfpack.

On Monday, Nov. 15, Kosile signed a national letter of intent to play basketball, which will take him on the next step of his journey, to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md.

Kosile, know by his teammates and friends as TJ, is coming off of his best game as a member of the Wolfpack. On Thursday, Nov.11, against Holmes Kosile scored 10 points, pulled down 8 rebounds, and blocked 2 shots in Co-Lin’s 68-58 win.

“The coaches from Eastern Shore view TJ as a big 6-11 ball of clay and I think that’s a great description of what he can be,” said Co-Lin Assistant Coach Cliff Furr.

Lady Jaspers Notch Fourth Straight Victory

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - On Monday night, the Manhattan College women's basketball team hit the road for the first time in three weeks looking to extend its winning streak to four straight. After Maryland Eastern Shore pulled within one in the second half, the Lady Jaspers (5-2) outscored the Lady Hawks (1-3) 16-4 over the final 7:08 to pull away for a 61-49 triumph in a tough, physical contest at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center.

"This was a very difficult game in an extremely hostile environment," Head Coach John Olenowski said. "Our girls really came through, and I'm proud of our effort."

With the score knotted at 10-10 early in the first half, Monica Roeder (Marlton, N.J.) and Toni-Ann Lawrence (Elmont, N.Y.) took over. The duo combined for all of Manhattan's points during a 16-5 run that gave the Lady Jaspers an 11-point, 26-15, advantage with 8:31 remaining before halftime. Maryland Eastern Shore responded with a pair of treys to get back within six, but another 10-4 Manhattan rally followed and the Lady Jaspers took a 36-25 lead into the locker room.

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UMES Hawks will try to break through

PRINCESS ANNE -- The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team finished 8-8 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play last season, sporting its best record in close to a decade. While, in past campaigns, breaking even in the conference would be welcomed, UMES coach Frankie Allen is far from satisfied. Allen, in his third year at the helm, looks to continue with the progression of a program that has seen its go from 4-28 in 2007-08 to 7-23 in 2008-09 to 11-21 last season.

"This is an opportunity for us to have a breakthrough season," Allen said. "It was a down program when we got here, and it has made significant progress."

UMES Routs Wesley in Exhibition Win

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Senior Casey Morton (Mardela Springs, Md.) and sophomore Chelsea
Sanders (Rochester, N.Y.) scored 15 points each, including nine apiece in the second half, as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore women's basketball team rolled to an exhibition victory over Division III Wesley, 87-51, in front of 1,469 at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center.

The pair were two of four players to score in double figures in the win. Juniors Bria Jackson (Rochester, N.Y.) and Amber Cook (Greensboro, N.C.) also had 11 and 10, respectively, while the UMES defense forced 33 turnovers and grabbed 23 steals.

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Fred Batchelor Up Close, Videographer: UMESHAWKSATHLETICS

Q&A with UMES coach Frankie Allen

Frankie Allen has high hopes for his third season in Princess Anne. The UMES men's basketball coach has added six scholarship players to the Hawks' roster. Allen believes his third recruiting class at UMES -- combined with his returning players -- could vault the Hawks into the MEAC's championship conversation.

Louis Bell, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound shooting guard from Friendship Collegiate in Washington, Mike Spence, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound center from Newark, N.J., who did a post-grad year at Apex Prep, Jo Jo Swift, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound point guard from Brooklyn, N.Y., who did a post-grad year at NIA Prep and Kevin Williams, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound point guard from Houston are the Hawks' incoming freshmen.

Allen has also added two junior college players to the Hawks' roster:

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UMES Hawks Basketball Releases 2010-11 Schedule

PRINCESS ANNE, MD - Head coach Frankie Allen and his men's basketball staff at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore announced their 2010-11 schedule Tuesday afternoon as they look forward to a tough but successful campaign.

"We have presented ourselves with a great challenge in this year's schedule," said Allen. "Our non-conference contests more than prepare us for the rough and rigorous Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference season."

The Hawks open their season at home for the second consecutive year, this time hosting Conference USA's Tulane Green Wave on Friday, Nov. 12. They then travel to New York to take on Columbia on Nov. 15 before continuing on to American in Washington, D.C. on the 17th. The team returns home on Nov. 20 as they face Kean University. Northern Illinois travels to Princess Anne to matchup with the Hawks on the 24th.

UMES won't see much of the William P. Hytche Arena from the end of November until the beginning of January as they play road games in the next nine of 10 matchups. However, the Hawks do stay within the area for the next three contests as they travel to Navy in Annapolis, Md. on Nov. 27 and then open MEAC play Dec. 4 against Delaware State for the fourth straight year. UMES meets up with Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va. for the first time in two years on Dec. 9.

Complete Schedule in PDF Format

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UMES Hawks Don't Disappoint on Homecoming

Coach Frankie Allen: 'It was a game that we felt we had to win.'

PRINCESS ANNE, MD -- The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men's basketball team looked to finish off the tail end of a homecoming doubleheader on a winning note Saturday. With the help of big runs in the first and second halves, UMES eased to a 66-52 victory over Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rival Coppin State. It was the Hawks' first homecoming win in eight years. "It's a great feeling," UMES coach Frankie Allen said. "So much is put into your homecoming, and we had a big crowd, and it was a game that we felt we had to win."

The beginning of the game saw both teams struggle on the offensive end, with the score being 3-3 after the first five minutes. The offensive woes continued for both teams, for it was close to the 10-minute mark before either team reached double digits when UMES guard Josh Bright hit two free throws to break a 9-9 tie. After Bright's free throws, the Hawks (9-18, 7-6 MEAC) went on to outscore Coppin State by a 17-12 margin to end the half, capped by a Hillary Haley 3-pointer in the closing seconds. The Eagles (7-18, 2-10) were sluggish following the break, and were outscored 14-2 by the Hawks in the first five minutes of the half.

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UMES passes the hat to Allen

Veteran coach with MEAC experience takes over men's basketball program

PRINCESS ANNE -- Standing under banners that boast of the past success of the men's basketball program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Thursday afternoon, director of athletics Keith Davidson introduced Frankie Allen as the 10th head coach of the program in its 27-year span as a Division I program. The new coach donned a UMES hat when introduced and received a standing ovation.

"Let me just say this, it fits," Allen said after putting on the cap. "Not only does it fit, it feels good." The hiring makes a nice birthday present for Allen, who just turned 59 on Monday and received a call from UMES president Thelma B. Thompson sending her good wishes. Allen will make $110,000 per year during his four-year contract, looking for the program's second Division I winning season and the first since the 1993-94 campaign.

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The Hawks have had one winning season in 27 years of Division I basketball, five coaches in seven years, and 14 consecutive losing seasons. Best decision Thelma Thompson, President, could ever make--hiring a coach with a winning history of making losers competitive. Frankie Allen is the right man for the job, but I'm not so sure about his No.1 assistant coach, Jamal Brown.

Photo: UMES plans to sign Jamal Brown on April 21 as No.1 assistant coach to Coach Frankie Allen.

Brown's career at South Carolina State ended badly (fired) after one season as the head coach due to allegations of an "unprofessional relationship with a female trainer." Brown is married; he did have a star playing career at S.C. State and led the Bulldogs to the 1996 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament.

The new Bulldogs Coach Tim Carter nearly cleaned house of Brown's recruits and the leftovers managed a 13-20 and 7-9 MEAC record for 8th place. We believe in second chances, but one does have to question the wisdom of Frankie Allen's decision to hire an unproven coach with no Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, D.C., or New Jersey connections for recruiting. If UMES is going to improve, they must get inner city players to come to the Shore, and we are not speaking of Ocean City.

With Fang Mitchell at Coppin State, Todd Bozeman at Morgan State, Towson State, UMBC and Mount St. Mary's just completing an NCAA run, UMES will have an uphill battle to get 12-15 talented players. Princes Anne is not Nashville, Washington, D.C. or Baltimore County, and Allen will have difficulty in procuring quality players from the available lower 2nd and 3rd tier.

Let's move along; nothing much happening here with the Hawks program.

-beepbeep