Teams: American (3-7) at Maryland-Eastern Shore (2-7)
Date and Location: Sun., Dec. 29, 2013, 2 p.m.– Hytche Athletic Center - Princess Anne, Md.
Series: 5th meeting; Series Tied, 2-2
Last Meeting: W, 63-49– Washington, D.C. (Jan. 3, 2013)
Radio: Federal News Radio 1050AM – Dain Laing (play-by-play), Jeremy Huber (analyst)
The American University men's basketball team resumes its five-game road trip this Sunday after a week-long break from games for the holiday, traveling to Maryland-Eastern Shore for a matchup with Hawks at 2 p.m. It will be the final nonconference regular season game for the Eagles.
Fans in the D.C.-metro area can tune in to Federal News Radio 1050AM to listen to the radio broadcast with Dan Laing and Jeremy Huber calling the action. For those outside the area, log on to FederalNewsRadio.com to listen to the internet stream.
American and UMES have met in each of the past four seasons, swapping victories each year. Last January, the Eagles earned a 14-point win over the Hawks at Bender Arena.
AU looks to get back on the winning track and snap a three-game skid. A tough West Coast trip against San Francisco and undefeated Saint Mary's (Calif.), as well as a close defeat against Brown, have the Eagles searching for the first win in 25 days.
American set a season-high with 11 made 3-pointers in its last game at San Francisco, but the Dons efficiency from the entire field (60.9 percent field goal percentage) trumped AU's second-highest scoring output of the year.
It was a reversal of roles for AU's starting center and point guard at USF. Junior Darius Gardner, who paces the team and is sixth in the Patriot League with 4.2 apg, led the way with eight rebounds, one off his career-high, while senior Tony Wroblicky was active in the high post, dishing out a personal best seven assists. Wroblicky leads American with 5.3 rpg and 1.8 bpg, good for 10th and second in the conference, respectively.
American boasts four players in double digit scoring this year as Gardner (10.8 ppg) and Wroblicky (10.3 ppg) are joined by junior John Schoof (12.2 ppg) and sophomore Jesse Reed (12.1 ppg). Schoof netted a season-high 22 points at USF while Reed got back on track with 16.
Despite an off game at San Fran, AU's defense has been some of the best in the county so far this season. The Eagles entered the week ranked 23rd in the nation in scoring defense (62.0 ppg).
Scouting UMES
Maryland-Eastern Shore enters Sunday's game on a five-game losing streak, most recently falling to Wilmington at home, 65-62. Both Hawk wins have come in Princess Anne however as UMES downed Salisbury in its home opener and beat Mount St. Mary's, 67-61 in late November.
UMES is led offensively by KyRee Jones, who averages 17.0 ppg, shooting .43.4 percent from beyond the arc, while 23 made 3-pointers. Not far behind in points in Hakeem Baxter with 14.6 ppg. Baxter (4.4 rpg) is one of four Hawks to average more than four rebounds per game: Francis Ezeiru (6.1 rpg), Troy Snyder (5.1 rpg) and Ishaq Pitt (4.7 rpg).
Head coach Frankie Allen is in his sixth season at the helm of UMES and has posted a 27-30 mark at home in his time with the Hawks. Last year, Maryland-Eastern Shore went 2-26 with a 2-14 mark in conference play.
More on the Eagles
After a slow start Schoof has got it going from distance, hitting 15-of-32 attempts from beyond the arc in his last five games. Schoof, who recently eclipsed the 100 3-pointers made mark in his career, ranks seventh all-time in Patriot League history with 41.2 percent from deep, one spot ahead of AU great Garrison Carr (40.9). Schoof is coming off a season-high 22 points at San Francisco.
Wroblicky, who had the best offensive game of his career early this month versus Howard, hitting 11-of-12 shots for a personal best, 23 points with 12 rebounds, continues to grow more comfortable in first-year head coach Mike Brennan's offense. Wroblicky also reached the 100th career game plateau in the red, white & blue and he is now 18 rebounds away from 500.
Gardner, a red-shirt junior from Stephen F. Austin State, has been a true iron man for the Eagles in his inaugural season in the nation's capital. "Pee Wee" leads the Patriot League in minutes played (36.7), good for 20th in the nation.
Social Media Insider
Be sure to follow American University men's basketball on Twitter for live, in-game updates and like the Eagles on Facebook for inside looks at the team.
Next Up
AU continues its five-game road trip and tips off conference play against defending Patriot League champion, Bucknell on Wednesday, January 2 at 7 p.m.
American University Athletics is proud to announce a special offer for fans and alumni to cheer on the Eagles in 2014. For just $55, the "Holiday 4-Pack" provides a sideline reserved ticket to four marquee match-ups to start the new year. Click here for more info and to buy now!
