PRINCESS ANNE, MD -- The Howard University Bison men's basketball team dropped its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opener 78-66 to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks at the Hytche Athletic Center, Saturday afternoon. 

Howard falls to [0-1 MEAC, 2-13 overall], while Eastern Shore improves to [1-0, 2-14].

It took two minutes for the opening salvo to finally connect with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore to take an early 2-0 lead. 

Howard answered back with a five-minute,15-2 run connecting on a long ball and going 7-of-9 from the floor to take a 15-4 lead with 13-minutes left in the first half. Khalil Robinson (7) and Charles Williams (6) led the charge for the Bison.

For the Hawks' Canaan Bartley stopped the bleeding, connecting on a long-range jumper that sparked a three-minute,11-0 run that tied the game at 15 with 10-minutes left before intermission. 

The Bison defense held the Hawks scoreless over the next three-minutes converting three turnovers to six points to extend the lead 21-15. 

UMES regained the lead after going on a 16-0 run. During the next three minutes, Howard went 0-for-3 and allowed three offensive rebounds. 

The Hawks and the Bison traded baskets to halftime, Howard trailed 31-21. 

Howard came out of intermission on a mission, recording a 12-4 run to tie the game at 40 with 15:24 remaining in regulation and take the lead 41-40 on a Williams and-1. 

The Hawks tied the game at 48, and after a Bison technical foul, Eastern Shore went on an 11-0 run, during the run the UMES went 9-of-11 from the charity stripe and 1-of-2 from the floor. 

The Bison could not close the gap, trading baskets the rest of the way falling 78-66 snapping a seven-game win streak. 

Williams led all scorer, recording 21 points, shooting 8-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-7 from the charity stripe. Khalil Robinson (18) and Wayne Bristol, Jr. (10) joined Williams in double-figures. Bristol led the Bison with eight rebounds. 

Howard forced 10 steals to Eastern Shore 7. The Hawks bench outscored the Bison 42-8.  

UP NEXT:

Howard will head home for three consecutive MEAC games versus Bethune-Cookman | Theme: Community Day (Jan. 6), Norfolk State | Theme: Military Appreciation Day (Jan. 11), and South Carolina State | Theme: Throwback Night (Jan. 13).

Monday's promotion is Community Day where a group of 10 or more fans will get into the game for only $5. Also, the first 50 fans for both games will receive Bison Swag to kick off the New Year. Listen to 97.3 FM all weekend for a chance to earn ticket giveaways in the reserved seats behind the DJ.

 For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.