Preview: Coppin State Eagles at Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. (Interstat) — A pair of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men’s basketball teams heading in opposite directions will meet Saturday when the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks host the struggling Coppin State Eagles.

The game is scheduled for Jan. 17, 2026, at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center.

The Hawks (7-13, 3-0 MEAC) enter on a three-game conference winning streak, their latest a 74-70 road victory at Norfolk State on Monday. In that game, forward Zion Obanla scored 20 points, continuing a strong stretch where he has reached double figures in four consecutive contests. Obanla is averaging 12.5 points per game during the Hawks’ conference surge.

Conversely, the Eagles (3-16, 0-2) are searching for their first MEAC win of the season and have lost five straight overall. They are coming off a heartbreaking 74-72 home loss to South Carolina State on Monday, a game in which guard Hassan Perkins scored a team-high 16 points.

Perkins has been a bright spot for Coppin State, averaging 8.7 points and 3.8 assists per game. His playmaking will be critical against a UMES defense that has held its last three opponents to an average of 58.7 points.

The Hawks have found momentum by protecting the ball and relying on balanced scoring, with Michael Teal and Jaden Cooper joining Obanla as consistent contributors. Coppin State, which averages 66.2 points per game and allows 84.6, will need a significant defensive improvement to slow UMES’s rhythm.

Historically, road games have been a challenge for the Eagles, who are 1-11 away from Baltimore this season. The Hawks are 4-2 at home.

Saturday’s matchup is the first of two regular-season meetings between the schools. They will meet again in Baltimore on Feb. 21.

For UMES, the game represents a chance to solidify its early position atop the MEAC standings. For Coppin State, it is an opportunity to halt its skid and steal a crucial conference road win.