Jan. 19, 2005
Click here to listen to the women's game beginning at 6:00 pm Wednesday
Click here to listen to the men's game beginning at approximately 8:00 pm Wednesday
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Click here for complete men's game notes
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The Women's Game
The UMES Lady Hawks conclude a six-game road stretch Wednesday with a battle against the Norfolk State Spartans at Echols Hall. The Lady Hawks, who are continuing a stretch of four MEAC games in eight days, come in at 4-9 (3-2 MEAC) after a hard-fought five-point loss at first-place Hampton Monday night.
The Lady Spartans, led by legendary 17th-year head coach James Sweat, have won two straight MEAC games following an 0-10 start to the season. The team is 0-7 in non-conference games, and 0-6 at home. Last season UMES beat Norfolk twice, including a nine-point victory at Echols Hall on Jan. 17th, then a 15-point homecoming victory Feb. 21st at the Hytche Center.
News and Notes
PG Erica Bennett has missed three of the Lady Hawks' last five games (12/20-illness, 1/10-suspension, 1/17-ankle sprain), and is doubtful for Wednesday's game as well...Freshman Kristi Veltkamp has scored in double-figures in each of her past five games (10, 10, 16, 18, 10, 12.8 ppg) after failing to score more than nine points in any of her first eight games (while battling an ankle injury)...Walk-on Toni Kennedy is leading the Lady Hawks in scoring (11.3 ppg) and in three-pointers made (30-79 3's)...Octavia Thompson, the Lady Hawks leading returning scorer from last season, left the team due to personal reasons after the December 6th game. The senior was averaging 8.3 ppg in four games played this season...UMES has taken an early lead in 7 of its 9 losses (13-3 vs. Laf., 11-4 vs. Tow., 16-8 vs. LIU, 17-7 vs. Mia., 18-7 vs. Win., 13-8 vs. Tem, 12-7 at Hamp). UMES then trailed at halftime of 5 of those 7 games
Oh So Close
The Lady Haws dropped a heartbreaker to Hampton, 51-46 on Monday night at the Convocation Center. Down three points and in possession of the ball with just three seconds left, an offensive foul against Toni Kennedy spoiled any chance of the Lady Hawks sending the game to overtime.
Kennedy, who led UMES (4-9, 3-2 MEAC) with 13 points, was called for pushing off before the Lady Hawks could inbound the ball trailing 49-46 with 2.9 seconds left. Rachel Butler then hit two free throws to seal the win for Hampton (6-8, 6-0 MEAC), which had its closest conference victory this season.
UMES led 28-25 at halftime, but Hampton started the second half on an 8-0 run, thanks to five of the Lady Hawks 34 turnovers being committed right after halftime. A Kolade Aderoju basket and a Kennedy three-pointer followed the spurt, tying the game 33-33 with 15:00 left.
Neither team was able to gain a lead of more than two points until Sharema Dean hit only her second field goal make of the game, a three-ball that put the Lady Pirates ahead 49-44 with 2:30 left. Kristi Veltkamp cut the lead to three with a jumper in the lane with 2:04 left, setting the stage for the final sequence.
UMES Lady Hawks (4-9, 3-2 MEAC)
2004-'05 Schedule:
Previous Games
Date Game Result
11/10 Wilm. Coll. (Ex) W 90-44
11/19 vs. Lafayette# L 44-60
11/20 at Eastern Michigan# L 52-80
11/23 Towson L 68-73
11/26 at LIU^ L 49-56
11/27 vs. Miami^ L 64-88
11/30 at Winthrop W 62-55
12/4 Delaware State* W 58-56
12/6 Howard* L 70-86
12/20 at Bucknell L 48-60
12/30 at Temple L 53-77
1/8 at Florida A&M* W 71-68 (OT)
1/10 at Beth-Cook.* W 67-55
1/17 at Hampton* L 46-51
Upcoming Games:
Date Game Time
1/19 at Norfolk St.* 6:00 pm
1/22 Coppin State* 2:00 pm
1/24 Morgan State* 5:30 pm
1/29 at N.C. A&T* 2:00 pm
1/31 vs. S. Car. St.* 5:30 pm
2/2 at American 7:00 pm
2/5 at Delaware St.* 2:00 pm
2/7 at Howard* 6:00 pm
2/12 Florida A&M* 2:00 pm
2/14 Beth-Cookman* 5:30 pm
2/19 Norfolk State* 2:00 pm
2/21 Hampton* 5:30 pm
2/26 at Coppin State* 5:30 pm
2/28 at Morgan State* 5:30 pm
3/7-12 MEAC Tourn. TBA
#=Eastern Michigan Eagle Classic
^=LIU Turkey Classic
*denotes MEAC conference game
The Men's Game
The UMES men's basketball team continues its stretch of four conference games in eight days with a tilt against the red-hot Norfolk State Spartans Wednesday at Echols Hall. The Hawks (1-13), playing the eighth of their last nine games on the road, come in on an 11-game losing skid following an 80-54 loss at Hampton Monday.
The Spartans (6-7, 4-1 MEAC), one of the MEAC's biggest surprises so far this season, have won four straight conference games coming in, and are one of only two MEAC teams with one loss (Coppin St, 6-1).
Scouting the Spartans
The Norfolk State Spartans (6-7, 4-1 MEAC), come into Wednesday's contest on a four-game conference winning streak, following road wins at S.C. St. and N.C. A&T last week. The team is playing its first home game since Dec. 12th, after concluding a stretch of seven straight games away from Echols Hall. Norfolk will play three more road games after Wednesday.
The Spartans, led by third-year head coach Dwight Freeman, were picked to finish sixth in the preseason conference poll, but are currently one of only two MEAC teams with only one loss.
Senior Chakowby Hicks, a preseason MEAC first-team selection, leads the Spartans in scoring (14.5 ppg) and is third in rebounding (5.9 rpg). Big men Calvin Brown (10.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and Karandick Ogunride (9.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg) are second and third respectively in scoring, and first in rebounding.
The Spartans beat the Hawks twice last season, 67-54 in Norfolk Jan. 17th, and 63-57 on homecoming at the Hytche Center Feb. 21st.
News and Notes
This is the second straight season the Hawks have started 1-13. At this point last season, the Hawks ran off wins in six of their next nine, to improve to 7-16. This was the third straight season the Hawks began 1-12. In `02-'03, the team finished 5-23, and last season 8-21...UMES is allowing 83 ppg to its opponents this season, and has twice given up at least 100 points...The Hawks are 0-9 away from the Hytche Center this season (and 1-4 at home)...The Hawks have struggled to score this season, averaging 56 points through 14 games. The team is shooting 38% from the field thus far, and 27% from three-point range...The Hawks won their first game of the season in their third attempt (12/1 vs. UMBC). Last season, it took the Hawks nine games to record a victory (started 0-8)...The Hawks returned only five players from last season's team that finished 8-21 (6-12 MEAC). Gone from `03-'04 are all three coaches including head coach Thomas Trotter, leading scorer Tee Trotter, leading rebounder Javes Wiggins and leading three-point shooter Aaron Wellington.
Brown and Out
Bruce Brown scored a career-high 31 points, and Hampton beat UMES 80-54 Monday to hand the Hawks their 11th straight loss. Junior Tim Parham recorded his fourth double-double in his last five games, as he collected 19 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in the loss.
Brown, the 6'11 junior center, hit 15-19 from the field as he dominated the interior in a game Hampton led almost the entire way. The Hawks (1-13, 0-5) trailed by nine at halftime, 32-23, but were outscored 48-31 in the second half, including 19-3 Hampton run midway through that put the game out of reach.
In 37 minutes of action, Parham was able to control the boards. In the first-half alone as he had 11 points and 11 rebounds, helping keep UMES in the contest.
Joining Parham in double-figures for the Hawks was Jareem Dowling with 12 points (3-4 3-pointers). Unfortunately, Dowling finished the contest in the locker room as he was hit with a technical foul and ejected from the floor in the game's final minute.
UMES HAWKS AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
3 Aly Samabaly G 6'3 200 Jr. 1.8 3.0
Scored 4 pts and had 3 rebs, but 6 TO's in 37 min at Hamp....Shooting only 8-45 FG's this season (18%), and 4-28 3's (14%)...Transfer from Duquesne, sat out entire `03-04 season...Played at St. Vincent/St. Mary HS in Ohio, where during junior and senior seasons he was a teammate of current NBA guard Lebron James.
32 Ryan Leak G 6'4 185 Fr. 5.1 1.2
Scored 3 pts (1-6 FG's) at Hamp...Shooting 2-20 FG's combined the past three games...Has started 7 of past 10 games...Career-high 15 pts (14 in 2nd half) at Baylor 12/22...True freshman from Jamaica, NY, averaged 21 ppg for Bayside H.S. his senior season.
33 Jareem Dowling F 6'6 235 Sr. 8.4 5.1
Scored 12 pts (3-4 3's) at Hamp, before being ejected in final minute...Career-high 22 pts at Baylor 12/22...Shooting 32% in FG's this season (13-51 3's)...One of two returning starters from `03-'04 (Tim Parham)...2003 transfer from Cecil C.C. (Cecil, MD).
42 Tim Parham F 6'9 240 Jr. 10.1 6.3
Scored 19 pts, pulled career-high 16 rebs at Hamp for fourth double-double in the past five games...Averaging 15.0 ppg and 8.7 rpg the past 6 games...One of two returning starters from `03-'04 (Jareem Dowling)...2003 transfer from Ellsworth C.C. (Iowa Falls, Ia).
45 Jason McKinnon C 6'11 270 Sr. 8.2 5.4
Had 7 pts and 2 rebs at Hamp...Played only 27 min past 2 games...Had career-highs 13 pts and 11 rebs vs. UMBC 12/1 (2nd career double-double)...Returnee from `03-'04, in which he started 9 of 29 games.
Reserves
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
5 Corey Brown G 6'0 158 Jr. 9.8 2.2
DNP at Hamp (violation of team rules)...Leading active Hawks in scoring...Committed 31 combined turnovers his past 6 games...Career-high 17 pts (5-6 3's) at TCU 12/21...Junior College transfer from Mott C.C. (Flint, MI), where he won a JUCO national championship in `02-'03.
15 Louis Brookins F 6'6 215 Fr. 2.5 0.9
5 total pts past 6 games...Career-high 9 pts at Nich. St 12/18...Freshman from Silver Spring, Md., was the first recruit signed by Larry Lessett.
21 Shondale Robinson F 6'5 208 Jr. 2.0 1.4
Already has scored 28 points this season (4 all last season)...Career-high 6 pts off the bench at Va Tech 11/23...Nicknamed "Texas"...Returnee from `03-'04, when he walked onto team in late December.
23 Anthony Davis F 6'3 190 So. 2.4 1.6
Had 4 pts at Hamp...Career-high 9 pts vs. UMBC 12/1...2004 transfer from Bunker Hill C.C. (Boston, MA), averaged 26 ppg there in `03-'04.
24 Stephen Kallman G 6'1 165 So. 0.0 0.3
Played in 6 games this season, total 11 min, 0 pts, 2 rebs, 0 FG attps...Transfer from Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL), did not play there.
30 Tal Cohen F 6'8 230 Fr. 1.9 1.1
Totaled 10 pts and 8 rebs the past 10 games in limited action...Freshman from Hadera, Israel, played on the Israeli Junior National Team while in the Israeli Army for three years.
44 x-Carl Pruitt F 6'7 215 Sr. 10.7 4.6
Academically ineligible to compete...Played 7 games this season, in which he was the Hawks leading average scorer...Career-high 20 pts vs. Howard 12/6...Returnee from `03-'04, played in only 9 games.
UMES Hawks (1-13, 0-5 MEAC)
2004-05 Schedule:
Previous Games
Date Game Result
11/13 Eliz City St. (Ex) L 59-74
11/19 at Fresno State L 42-83
11/23 at Virginia Tech L 50-102
12/1 UMBC W 69-62
12/4 Delaware State* L 55-65
12/6 Howard* L 68-88
12/11 Morehead State L 45-62
12/18 at Nicholls State L 66-100
12/21 at TCU L 53-93
12/22 at Baylor L 73-97
12/29 at Portland State L 44-89
1/8 at Florida A&M* L 68-93
1/10 at Beth-Cook.* L 58-61
1/14 Brown L 38-87
1/17 at Hampton* L 54-80
Upcoming Games
1/19 at Norfolk State* 8:00 pm
1/22 Coppin State* 4:00 pm
1/24 Morgan State* 7:30 pm
1/29 at N.C. A&T* 4:00 pm
1/31 S. Carolina St.* 7:30 pm
2/5 at Delaware St.* 4:00 pm
2/7 at Howard* 8:00 pm
2/12 Florida A&M* 4:00 pm
2/14 Beth-Cookman* 7:30 pm
2/19 Norfolk State* 4:00 pm
2/21 Hampton* 7:30 pm
2/26 at Coppin State* 7:30 pm
2/28 at Morgan State* 7:30 pm
3/7-12 MEAC Tourney TBA
*denotes MEAC conference game
Larry Lessett- Head Coach
Lawrence Lessett, Jr. is in his first year as head coach of the Hawks. While making his debut as a Division I head coach, he brings almost thirty years of coaching experience from the high school level through the professional ranks.
Lessett comes to Princess Anne after working for three years as a global scout for Magic Johnson International Basketball. Prior to that he served as head coach of the Magic City Snowbears of the International Basketball Association, where he coached the team to a franchise record in wins and a playoff appearance in his only season.
No stranger to the college ranks, Lessett has made several collegiate stops in his career, most recently as head basketball coach and athletic director of Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tennessee. He has also served as an assistant coach at Mercer University, De Anza College, Georgia Southwestern College, Georgia College, Santa Barbara City College, Western New Mexico University, Loyola Marymount University and Cal State University Northridge.
Lessett received a Bachelors degree in Physical Education from Cal State Northridge in 1983 and a Masters degree in Phys Ed and Health from Georgia College in 1991.
Assistant Coaches
Meredith Smith- Assistant Coach
Meredith Smith returns to his alma mater to serve as the first assistant men's basketball coach this season. He graduated from UMES, then Maryland State College, in 1975.
Smith became head coach of Southern High School in Baltimore City in 1978, a position he then held for 24 seasons. In that time he compiled a 414-145 record, giving him the second most victories in Baltimore City Public School history. Smith won 25 playoff games, including three Maryland State Championships (MPSSAA), two Maryland Scholastic Association Conference Championships and a Baltimore City Championship in 1999-2000.
In 1993 the Baltimore Sun named Smith their "Coach of the Year." Smith holds a Bachelors degree in Secondary and Physical Education from UMES and a Master's degree from Coppin State University.
Carl Thomas- Assistant Coach
Carl Thomas, a first-year men's assistant coach, joined the UMES program during the first week of January. Thomas comes to the Hawks less than a year removed from playing in the professional ranks.
While Thomas is holding his first coaching position, he has been in collegiate and professional basketball for almost two decades as a player. A former standout at Eastern Michigan University (1987-'91), Thomas spent much of his professional career in the Continental Basketball Association. He holds the career CBA record for the most times called up to the NBA (5).
Thomas played 68 games over three season in the NBA, including stints with the Sacramento Kings (1992), Cleveland Cavaliers (`97 + `98), Golden State Warriors (`98) and Orlando Magic (`98). He averaged 2.9 ppg.
