The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Athletics Department and Head Coach Frankie Allen released its 2012-13 men's basketball schedule Wednesday. The Hawks will compete in 27 total games, including eight home contests. UMES will open its season November 9 in the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Rainbow Classic hosted by the Universityof Hawaii.
 
Following the Rainbow Classic, UMES will travel to Tampa, Florida to compete in the
University of South Florida Tournament Nov. 16-18. Other teams in competition at that
tournament will be Loyola-Chicago, Western Michigan and host South Florida. The Bulls
had the best record of teams competing in the tournament, finishing 22-14 and 12-6 in the
BIG EAST last season. Both Loyola and UMES finished the season 7-23, while Western
Michigan went 14-20.
 
Following two trips to sun-soaked areas of the country, UMES will return east to play
MEAC opponent Delaware State (Dec. 1). The Hawks will then go on a five-game non-
conference road trip. UMES will face three former national champions-Maryland (Dec.
5), Cincinnati (Dec. 8) and UConn. (Dec. 17), before traveling to Ohio University (Dec.
22) and American University (Jan. 2) to open the 2013 season. UMES topped American
64-62 in overtime last season in the W.P. Hytche Athletic Arena.
 
The Hawks have its home opener January 12 when it hosts MEAC foe Norfolk State
University, followed by its second meeting with Delaware State (Jan. 19). Its other home
contests will include North Carolina A&T (Feb. 2) and North Carolina Central (Feb. 4),
as well as a four-game home stint that will include its homecoming game versus Morgan
State (Feb. 16).
 
Coppin State (Feb. 18), Hampton University (Feb. 23) and Howard (Feb. 25) will all
make appearances in the Hytche.
 
UMES will make trips to Florida A&M (Jan. 26) and Bethune-Cookman (Jan. 28), which
it did not do last season. The Hawks will conclude the regular season with a trip to
Savannah, Ga. to meet up with Savannah State (Mar. 7) before the conference
tournament.