After a 1-6 start, UMES is enjoying a surprising surge, having won six of eight games since then. The team is 4-1 in its last five contests – a stretch capped by Sunday's 78-69 victory over Duquesne.
But Hawks coach Bobby Collins said the team isn't getting carried away with its recent run of success.
"We know that it's a process, and we're taking it one game at a time and preparing for the game in front of us," Collins said Monday morning as the team prepared to board a plane to travel for Tuesday night's game at Tennessee-Martin. "We know it's a long process, and we know that our [Mid-Eastern Atlantic] conference is tough. We're just getting prepared and coming together as a team. We've played a lot on the road, and the road really builds character. You have a chance to either win or lose your team, and fortunately, we've been able to win our team over and build a trust in the system, a trust in the process, and a belief in the coaches."
With seven wins, UMES has already surpassed last season's total of six. But Collins said the team hasn't dwelled on that accomplishment.
"We knew we had a chance to be talented," he said. "It was a matter of how fast we could gel and build team chemistry and camaraderie. There were a lot of things that had to change to build a winning culture, change the mindset because there were a couple games early – like Bucknell and Detroit – that we lost because we didn't understand how to win. So I told the coaches that we have to will our way to some wins until they start believing it. And we willed our way to some wins and now they believe we can win."
The Hawks can continue their winning ways against the Skyhawks (7-4), who have lost two of their last three games but have not played since last Monday when they suffered a 64-37 setback at Butler. A victory would help the UMES reach .500 in late December for the first time in at least 12 years.
"It would be major – not only for our team, but for our community and our university," Collins said of evening the team's record at 8-8. "I don't think this team has been .500 in a while at this point of the year. So we definitely want to give ourselves a chance and prepare. I told my guys after the game to be happy, but don't be satisfied. We know we've got a long way to go, and we just want to stay humble and hungry."