The Rattlers’ men’s basketball team (3-12, 1-2 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) will see if they can bounce back from the home loss they suffered on Monday night against Norfolk State when they face the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (3-12, 1-1 in the MEAC) tomorrow.
The game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off and both teams will be looking to salvage their young seasons in this pivotal conference game. This match-up should be an intriguing one, as the Rattlers and the Hawks look to gain ground on the other MEAC teams that are currently ahead of both schools in the standings.
These two teams share the same overall record of 3-12, but that is essentially where the comparisons stop. The Hawks have lost seven consecutive games, while the Rattlers have won three of their last six.
The match-up could be a high-paced one, as both teams have allowed 70 points or more on average. The Rattlers average 63 points a game, while their opponents have averaged 76 points per game against them. The Hawks average 60 points per game as an offense, and they allow 75 points per game on defense.
The Rattlers have two players that average double figures in scoring. Junior guard Christopher Walker is the team’s leading scorer with 10.5 points per game. Following closely behind him is senior guard Brandon Bryant averaging 10.1 points per contest. Walker is also leading rebounds for the Rattlers with seven rebounds per game (fifth in the conference).
For the Hawks, junior guard Kevin White is currently leading the MEAC in assists with 5.6 per game. The Hawks also boasts one of the top scorers in the conference with sophomore guard Hillary Haley averaging 12.3 points per game. Haley also is the ninth leading scorer in the MEAC.
With a win in this conference showdown tomorrow, the Rattlers can get back to a .500 winning percentage in the MEAC. A win would also put the Rattlers within two games of the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats who are currently at the top the conference with a 3-0 record in the MEAC.
The Hawks’ only conference win was against Delaware State. They barely edged past them in a 53-50 victory. But just like for the Rattlers, a win in tomorrow night’s game would shoot the Hawks right back into the MEAC mix.
Although this game will not be seen as a battle between two of the conferences juggernauts, this game will indeed be a battle between two teams trying to stay afloat.