The United State Naval Academy sank over 50-percent of their shots, sporting a 50.8 percentage from the field and 56-percent from behind the arc to lead the Midshipmen to an 85-61 win over the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES).

Navy jumped out to a big lead in the first half, scoring the first nine points of the game and leading by as many as 19 in the first frame. They were up 41-23 at the break. The Hawks struggled from the floor, shooting just over eight percent from the arc and just under 26-percent from the floor.

In the second half UMES came out with a new intensity picking up a dunk right away from Ishmawiyl McFadden, another jumper from McFadden and a three pointer from Bright. The lead was cut to 11 four minutes into the half.

UMES went on to hold Navy scoreless for the first five and a half minutes of the period, cutting the lead to six, 41-35 on a Jackson slam. Navy got a jumper from Kina but McFadden, who was scoreless in the first half, got a lay-in and put it back to six, 43-37.

Navy’s Chris Harris and Kaleo Kina scored 20 points each and Greg Sprink added 14 to send the Hawks to their second straight loss.

UMES was led by Ed Tyson who had 16 points and Josh Bright who added 13. McFadden would finish with nine points.

Tyson sat out much of the game after picking up his third and fourth fouls, the latter being a technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct. He picked those up with just over four and half minutes to play in the first half and managed just 27 total minutes, his second lowest output of the season.

Denzel Jackson picked up the second double-double of the year for the Hawks with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Jackson would lead all players on the boards. Despite his performance on the glass, Navy edged UMES 42-40 in the rebounding effort while UMES had 18 offensive caroms.

“We turned up the defensive efforts and didn’t make them pay,” said Interim Head Coach Meredith Smith. “We expended a lot of energy on the run and the play was very commendable. We made adjustment and worked hard. The kids left everything out on the floor.”