UMBC Sports Blog

Probable Starters:

UMBC (0-4):
C- Robbie Jackson (9.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, .571 FG%)
G- Adrian Satchell (3.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.3 bpg)
G- Chauncey Gilliam (15.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.3 spg)
G- Matt Spadafora (7.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.3 spg)
G- Chris De La Rosa (6.5 ppg, 7.3 apg, 3.3 rpg)

Key Reserves:
F- Jake Wasco (0.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, .500 FT%)
G- Bakari Smith (1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, .250 FG%)
G- Shawn Grant (10.5 ppg, 1.3 spg, .484 FG%)
G- Nick Groce (2.5 ppg, 1.0 apg, 0.8 rpg)
G- Brian Neller (3.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, .222 3-PT%)

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Winner will be announced in fall sports award post on December 5.

Even thought I was sitting at the press table watching the game and taking notes on Tuesday I couldn’t help but notice the student section two feet away from me during the game. For the entire first half the crowd was silent and sitting. The real student section was in the upper level of the arena. They were standing. They were yelling. They were being real fans.

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It was almost a guaranteed overtime situation for the Retrievers as Towson broke their four point led with under 30 seconds to go and the game tied at 72 with just six second left.

After a half court inbound in Michelle Brokans, who them made her way into the paint, Phil Stern called an immediate time out with nearly no time take off the clock, leaving UMBC with a few ticks of the clock to get one shot off.

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Coming back from a 19 point deficit is nearly impossible to do. Even if there is 12 minutes left, too many things have to go your way for that to happen. UMBC got within four points of Coppin State with under two minutes left, but were outscored 16-4 after that with 14 of those points for the Golden Eagles coming from the foul line.

Even though UMBC came out great, scoring the first seven points of the game, they were completely shut down in the final seven minutes of the first half as they were outscored 18-5. Three of those points came with just 13 seconds left in the game as Matt Spadafora scored three of his four points in the game to break a 5:29 scoring drought for the Retrievers, sending UMBC to the locker room down by 11 points at the half.

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Probable Starters:

UMBC (0-3):
C- Robbie Jackson (7.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, .429 FG%)
F- Adrian Satchell (3.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, .500 FG5)
G- Chauncey Gilliam (13.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.3 apg)
G- Matt Spadafora (9.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.3 spg)
G- Chris De La Rosa (4.7 ppg, 6.0 apg, 3.3 rpg)

Key Reserves:
F- Jake Wasco (0.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.7 bpg)
G- Shawn Grant (10.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg, .480 FG%)
G- Brian Neller (4.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.7 apg)
G- Nick Groce (3.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, .333 FG%)
G- Bakari Smith (1.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, .333 FG%)

Coppin State (3-1):
C- Ceslovas Kucinskas (5.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, .727 FG%)
F- Brandon Doughty (10.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.8 bpg)
G- Lenny Young (14.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.0 apg)
G- Kareem Brown (11.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.0 apg)
G- Vince Goldsberry (8.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.5 apg)

Key Reserves:
C- Sam Coleman (3.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .278 FG%)
F- Jonathan Landry (7.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .409 FG%)
F- Eddie Hayden (4.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, .500 FG%)
G- George Jackson (6.2 ppg, 2.8 apg, 1.0 spg)
G- Quinston Reggins (1.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.8 apg)

It has been 10 years since these two local rivals have met up and this year UMBC is providing another great local basketball game to fans. So far they have played Morgan State and Loyola and still have Towson on their schedule. So they have potential to get some local bragging rights, but right now that is not happening. they are 0-3 and desperate for a win. While Coppin State is 3-1, the three wins are all against none Division I schools. But that does not mean it is a shoe in win for UMBC. While they could break their losing streak with this game, Coppin has one thing that could really kill UMBC a lot of size. While Robbie Jackson is a big presence in the paint, this season his time has been limited by foul trouble and when he’s out teams are just using their size to get by the five guard set on the court for UMBC.

Right now UMBC has to find a groove. Aside from their last game they have played well aside from key parts of the game, which cost them wins. They have a good trio of scorers in Matt Spadafora, Chauncey Gilliam, and Shawn Grant, but they all have to step up and soon if they want to go anywhere.

Spadafora is a fifth year senior and has looked good in stretches, but he has struggled at times. While 9.0 ppg is not horrible by any means, he has to give the Retrievers more offense than that. Again, he’s a fifth year senior and is starting his third year.

Gilliam has played very well for UMBC but has had very bad dry spells. As I’ve been saying for the last year, he has star in the making written all over him but he has yet to take over a game and lead UMBC to a win aside from his 21 point performance last year against Nebraska. But one game does not get rid of the in the making status. He can be great but needs to step up and be more consistent.

Grant however is playing very well for a freshman. His issues are expected to happen with being a freshman, but he does have to cut down on rushed shots. When those three and Chris De La Rosa, who has been playing great, get things together with Jackson staying out of foul trouble, the team can be very dangerous. But until then they will make you pull your hair out.

This is a perfect opportunity to get things together and build, and Randy Monroe will have them ready, they just have to execute.

Probable Starters:

UMBC (1-2):
C- Topé Obajolu (5.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, .571 FG%)
F- Meghan Colabella (10.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg, .480 FG%)
G- Carlee Cassidy (13.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.3 apg)
G- Michelle Kurowski (18.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.6 apg)
G- Katie Brooks (6.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.6 apg)

Key Reserves:
F- Erin Brown (12.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, .552 FG%)
F- Chrissy Robinson (3.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.000 FG%)
G- Michele Brokans (0.7 ppg, 2.0 apg, 1.6 apg)

Towson (2-1)
F- Kandace Davis (4.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, .545 FG%)
F- Haliena Snowden (4.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.0 spg)
G- Omara Parker (6.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.6 apg)
G- Simona Petronyte (3.0 ppg, 1.0 apg, .250 FG%)
G- Shanae Baker-Brice (21.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.6 apg)

Key Reserves:
F- Jessica Haywood (7.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, .700 FG%)
F- Dovile Miliauskaite (1.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.3 spg)
G- Charmonique Watt (8.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.0 spg)

Last year when these two teams met the Retrievers walked away with a one point win. But that was in the RAC. While it is not a far drive at all, the women’s basketball team still has major problems on the road. Last season they lost by over 20.0 ppg and this season they lost their first road game by 22 points. While Michelle Kurowski is at the cusp of breaking out to that star level, and Carlee Cassidy is already there, the duo has to get things done on the road. It seems that when one has a good night the other struggled and if they both do well the rest of the team struggles. That has to stop and the entire team has to come together to get that much needed road win. So far this year Towson lost a game to Big East powerhouse West Virginia, but have solid home wins against Winthrop and North Carolina A&T since.

If UMBC wants to even their record this is a good opportunity. Towson is a decent team but not a team they are outmatched by in any stretch of the imagination. But they have to learn to win on the road and again, this is a good chance to get one.

They men’s swimming and diving team was not matched at all this weekend as they won their fourth straight Patriot Invitational crown with 922.5 points.

Mat Carson capped off the weekend with a first place finish in the one mile swim in 16:21.97.

While Carson was the only first place finisher on the final day of the meet, Nour Saad finished second in the 200 back in 1:49.78.

They won two bronze on the final day as Phillip Novotny finished third in the 200 breast in 2:07.59 while the 400 free relay team of Eric Jones, Zach Voncer Haar, Herol Marjak, and Steven Gallagher won a bronze in 3:07.25.

Jones also finished sixth in the 100 free in 46.74. Finally, Sandy Haibel had the ninth fastest time in UMBC history in the 200 fly as he finished fourth in 1:52.44.

On the diving side freshman Andrew Eckhoff finished fourth in the 1-meter dive with 253.90 points.

For the second time in three years the women’s swimming and diving team won the Patriot Invitational as they scored 1,006 points.

The women’s swimming and diving team swepth the 200 fly as Jennifer Esposito took gold in 2:02.06 while Lindsay Sherman and Sarah Ryan took the silver and bronze, respectfully.

Junior Rebecca Godwin showed great endurance with a gold in the one mile swim in 17:08.13 while freshman Amy Fay finished third in 17:29.80.

Tereza Kaplanova won the 200 breat in 2:19.10.

In the 100 free Sam Maccherola won a silver as she finished in 51.50 while Abbey McKenney followed with a fourth place finish in 52.47.

Maccherola, Erin Wohlers, Ashley Miller, and McKenney combined in the 400 free in the final event of the meet to win a silver in 3:28.88.

Kelsey Fitzpatrick finished fourth in the 200 back in 2:05.75.

The men’s swimming and diving team extended their lead to 115.5 points over UNC-Wilmington with 644.5 total points.

Eric Jones won a gold in the 200 free in 1:41.12 while Herol Marjak touched second in 1:42.34.

Matt Mattingly touched second in the 100 breast in a UMBC season-best with a time of 57.10. He then toughed fourth in the 100 fly in 50.94, just ten milliseconds behind bronze winner Ben Wolbert.

Mat Carson and Dan Weston-Dawkes finished fourth and fifth in the 400 IM.

Sandy Haibel finished the 100 back in the ninth fasted time in UMBC history in 51:33.

The 200 medley relay team of Haibel, Matt Mattingly, Zach Vonder Haar, and Jason Mattingly touched second in 1:33.27.

The the 800 free relay, the “A” team of Marjak, Wolbert, Keilan Freeman, and Jones finished second in 6:54.27 while the “B” team of Mark Garbowski, Tim Deklau, Evan Danz and Alex Moothart finished third in 7:00.46

In Diving, freshman Andrew Eckhoff placed with with a life-time best with a 273.70 score.