Maryland Eastern Shore Comes West To Take On Oregon St.

Maryland-Eastern Shore (2-4) at Oregon St. (4-2) / Gill Coliseum / 3 PM / Pac-12 Channel / KEJO 1240 AM / KEX 1190 AM

Game Notes / Maryland Eastern-Shore Game Notes / Rosters

Oregon St. continues their 3 game home stand against Maryland-Eastern Shore. The Hawks hail from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, and the small town of Princess Anne, Maryland, specifically, on the east side of Chesapeake Bay. It's the first time the Beavers and Hawks have crossed paths.

The Hawks have been off nearly 2 weeks, since a 64-59 loss at UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) back on Dec. 2, which followed a 67-59 loss at Navy.

Hakeem Baxter who averages 17.2 points, and had 28 against UMBC, leads the Hawks, an offense challenged team that averages 68 points per game, which doesn't sound so bad until you recall the offense-friendly way that the game is being called this year, which leaves Maryland-Eastern Shore barely in the top 300 in the county in scoring.

The reasons include not being in the top 300 in assists, or the top 330 in shooting percentage from the field, which is what happens when you shoot less than 40%.

Maryland Eastern Shore is also one of the smallest teams around at any level, with only 1 regular over 6'6".

The Beavers got back on the winning track Friday night, with a 77-63 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a several times postponed contest that weather near and far forced to be played nearly a week later than originally scheduled.

It was Oregon St.'s first action after a 93-81 loss at DePaul back on Dec. 1, and the nearly 2 week layoff showed early. But a stronger second half opened as large as a 20 point lead on 3 occasions, before coasting home to the 14 point win.

Roberto Nelson was as has often been the case the game's leading scorer, posting 26 points for the Beavers, and Devon Collier had a 20 point and game high 10 rebound double double, after sinking 9 of 10 shots.

Oregon St. is playing teams you probably have never heard of, from towns and conferences you never heard of, with players you never heard of. But then, the MEAC sent us Coppin St., and that didn't go so well. It means the Beavers have no choice but to make sure these visitors remain unknowns.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com