Two new players in the UMES starting lineup have helped the team win four of its last six games.
Senior point guard Ishaq Pitt replaced senior Isaac Smith III in a 53-46 win over Navy on Dec. 13 and has averaged 6.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in six starts. Hawks coach Bobby Collins said he felt compelled to replace the 6-foot-1, 170-pound Smith with the 6-3, 210-pound Pitt.
"I wasn't happy with what I was getting out of my point guard," Collins said Thursday. "Ishaq had been coming in and playing some backup point guard for us. He went in one particular game and played well, and we just decided to move him up and go with the growing pains of him being our point guard, and it's worked out for us."
Redshirt junior forward Iman Johnson moved into the starting lineup for junior Dominique Elliott and has averaged 5.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in five starts.
"We were looking for a push off the bench," Collins said of starting the 6-5, 215-pound Johnson over the 6-8, 260-pound Elliott. "Dominique Elliott hasn't found his way yet. We know he's capable, and we're waiting for him to really give us the Dominique Elliott that he really is, and at some point, it's going to come. We know Iman Johnson is a go-hard guy who can give us energy right away, and he's done that."
But Elliott continues to get minutes due to his value as a backup inside presence to 6-9, 245-pound senior forward Mike Myers.
"If Mike happens to get into foul trouble, we know we have another big man to go to who can give us points," Collins said. "And we can also bring Dom in to play with Mike. They can play together because they've done it before. … Coaches are always searching and trying to find the right combination of players to start and play."
Collins also said there is room for Smith to earn increased playing time, too.
"He'll play," Collins said. "He's just got to be ready when he does play. The thing is, coaches are always looking and searching, and we know Isaac is capable of playing. … It just happened to be where Ishaq is a better fit for us right now. Isaac will be a pretty good backup for him."