ORANGEBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined more by grit than grace, South Carolina State used a dominant first-half performance and a decisive advantage at the free-throw line to secure a 63-54 victory over Maryland-Eastern Shore in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at a sparsely attended SHM Memorial Center. The Bulldogs, who led by 14 points at halftime, improved to 6-16 overall. The Hawks, who never fully recovered from a sluggish opening period, fell to 8-16. The most critical phase of the contest unfolded in the game’s first 15 minutes. South Carolina State, leveraging its disruptive defense, built a commanding lead that Maryland-Eastern Shore spent the remainder of the evening unsuccessfully trying to erase. The Bulldogs forced 10 first-half turnovers, converting them into easy transition opportunities and building a 34-20 halftime advantage. Maryland-Eastern Shore’s offensive struggles were stark, managing just 20 points on a series of missed shots and unforced errors against an active South Carolina State defense that recorded 12 steals for the game. While the Hawks showed more life after the break, outscoring the Bulldogs 34-29 in the second half, they could never string together a sustained run to seriously threaten the lead. Every time Maryland-Eastern Shore would cut the deficit to single digits, South Carolina State answered, often from the charity stripe. The disparity in free-throw shooting was the statistical story of the night and a primary driver of the final margin. South Carolina State attempted more than double the free throws of the Hawks, making 19 of 27. Maryland-Eastern Shore, by contrast, went just 8 for 13 from the line. This 11-point advantage from the foul line proved insurmountable on a night where both teams shot an identical 6 for 18 from three-point range and the Bulldogs held only a slight edge in overall field goal percentage. South Carolina State’s backcourt duo of Jayden Johnson and James Morrow provided the consistent offensive punch. Johnson, a guard from Brooklyn, New York, led all scorers with 19 points, adding two assists. Morrow, a forward from Jacksonville, Florida, contributed 14 points, two assists and was a steadying presence. Florian Tenebay of Martinique, France, added 11 points, including several key free throws down the stretch. Maryland-Eastern Shore was led by Jaden Cooper’s 19 points. Zion Obanla of Houston provided energy with 10 points and a game-high four assists, while Joseph Locandro of Melbourne, Australia, chipped in seven points off the bench. Beyond the free-throw line, South Carolina State’s ball security and distribution were superior. The Bulldogs committed only 10 turnovers while dishing out 12 assists. Maryland-Eastern Shore, hampered by 19 turnovers, managed just three assists for the entire game, highlighting the offensive stagnation that plagued them for long stretches. Defensively, South Carolina State’s length and activity were pivotal. The Bulldogs blocked five shots, with Derwin Hodge and Tim Okojie each swatting two, and their 12 steals fueled their transition game. Maryland-Eastern Shore did win the battle on the offensive glass, 9-6, and scored 26 points in the paint to South Carolina State’s 18, but those interior advantages were negated by the broader issues of turnovers and foul shooting. The victory gives South Carolina State a measure of momentum as it prepares for a road game at Howard on Saturday. Maryland-Eastern Shore, which has now lost three consecutive conference games, looks to regroup quickly before visiting Morgan State, also on Saturday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Princess Anne, Maryland, on Feb. 28. The game’s tempo and defensive focus resulted in a final total of 117 points, well under the pregame over/under line of 135.5. South Carolina State’s win confirmed its status as the statistical favorite entering the contest, having been projected with a 77.3% probability to win by National Statistical’s ELO system.