PRINCESS ANNE, Md. ? Freshman Keishawn Mayes (Warrenton, N.C.) scored a team-high 13 points and had seven rebounds as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore men’s basketball team defeated NJIT, 46-42, at the William P. Hytche Center Saturday.
The come-from-behind win for UMES (1-5) is its first since Feb. 12, 2007, a home 68-62 victory over Hampton and it snapped a 12-game losing skid. With the loss, NJIT (0-7) has dropped 40 consecutive games, 20 of which have been on the road.
Junior Neal Pitt (Fort Washington, Md.) was the only other Hawk in double figures with 12 points and seven boards, while freshman Jaime Boyer (Philadelphia, Pa.) contributed six points and six boards.
“I’m really proud of how we hung in there, it was a good win for us and hopefully we can build on this,” said UMES head coach Frankie Allen. “Sometimes when you’re zero-forwhatever, getting that first win kind of takes that monkey off your back a little bit.”
After a tight first half, the Highlanders held a 21-18 advantage at the break.
NJIT’s Jheryl Wilson hit a three from the left wing to open the Highlanders’ biggest lead of the game in the second half, 28-20, with 17:53 left. From there, the Hawks went on an 11-2 run capped by a Mayes jumper with six minutes gone in the half to take the lead for good.
The Highlanders wouldn’t go away, though, making it a one possession game with 2:10 to play. Wilson hit one-of-two free throws to make it 44-41 and Gary Garris did the same four seconds later.
Marc Davis (Baltimore, Md.) restored the four-point advantage for the Hawks with a pair of foul shots of his own with 1:05 left.
UMES played some tenacious defense in the in the final minute keeping NJIT off the board to hold on for the win.
“I think at times we played a little tight because we wanted to win so badly,” Allen said. “We were playing not so much to win but playing not to lose. By getting this win, we take that exhale and just have some fun out there.”
Wilson led all players with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds.
NJIT was shot 33.3 percent from the field for the game and UMES shot 26.1 percent.
UMES outrebounded its opponent for the fifth time six games by a 40-28 margin.
NJIT is at St. John’s Dec. 8 at 7:30, while UMES next travels to St. Bonaventure Dec. 8 for a 4 p.m. tip.