LEIPSIC, Del. (Interstat) — Two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Saturday when the Delaware State Hornets host the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks at Memorial Hall.

The matchup features struggling squads, with Delaware State at 5-14 overall and Maryland-Eastern Shore at 8-13. Both will look to gain ground in the conference standings.

The Hawks enter with more recent success, having won four consecutive games, all in MEAC play. Their last outing was a 70-67 home victory over Coppin State on Jan. 17, led by 20 points from guard Dorion Staples. UMES also has conference wins over Norfolk State, Howard and Morgan State in January.

Delaware State has lost five straight, including a 70-64 defeat at South Carolina State on Monday. The Hornets’ last win was a non-conference victory over Holy Family on Dec. 21. Their MEAC schedule has been unkind, with four of their five consecutive losses coming by six points or fewer.

A key player to watch for the Hawks is Staples, who has averaged 15.5 points per game during the team’s four-game win streak. He scored 20 points in 36 minutes against Coppin State.

For Delaware State, guard Zion Bethea will aim to provide a spark. He led the Hornets with 13 points in the loss to South Carolina State.

The game will be the first of two regular-season meetings between the rivals. They are scheduled to meet again at Maryland-Eastern Shore on March 5.

Following this contest, Delaware State travels to face Coppin State on Feb. 7. Maryland-Eastern Shore’s next game is at Morgan State on the same date.

Tipoff is set for Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Leipsic.