Feb. 21, 2005
Click here to listen to the women's game beginning at 5:20 pm Monday
Click here to listen to the men's game beginning at approximately 7:30 pm Monday
Click here for complete women's game notes
Click here for complete men's game notes
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The Women's Game
The fifth-place UMES Lady Hawks conclude a crucial four-game home stand with a senior night match-up against the two-time defending MEAC champion Hampton Lady Pirates Monday at the Hytche Center. The Lady Hawks come in at 10-14 (8-7 MEAC) following a tough 59-57 loss to Norfolk State Saturday. UMES has won eight of its last 14 following a 2-8 start to the season.
The Lady Pirates, who come into the game with a half-game lead over Coppin State for first in the MEAC, have won three straight and nine of 11 overall since a 3-8 start to the season. The team, led by freshman Rachel Butler, beat UMES in a nip-and-tuck affair 51-46 January 17th.
News and Notes
PG Erica Bennett returned Saturday after missing 11 of UMES' previous 15 games (12/20-illness, 1/10-suspension, 1/17-31-ankle, 2/5-14-family matter). Without her, the Lady Hawks are averaging 24.9 turnovers/game (11 games, 274 total), and with her 21.5 TO's/gm (13 games, 279 total)...PG Ashley Chase is averaging 11.4 ppg (91) but 7.0 TO's/gm (56) over the past 8 games...Kristi Veltkamp has scored in double-figures in 12 of her past 16 games (11.1 ppg, 178 pts) after failing to score more than nine points in any of her first eight games (4.3 ppg)...Walk-on Toni Kennedy is leading the Lady Hawks in scoring (11.0 ppg). In her past 12 games she has struggled from the field though, shooting 8-12 FG's at N.C. A&T 1/29, but a combined 32-122 FG's (26%) the other 11 games...Octavia Thompson, the Lady Hawks leading returning scorer from `03-'04, 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.
Heartbreak Hotel
UMES went cold offensively in the final three minutes of the game, and the Lady Hawks dropped a crucial MEAC match to Norfolk State, 59-57 Saturday at the Hytche Center. The loss left NSU and UMES tied for fifth place in the MEAC standings with three games remaining.
UMES (10-14, 8-7 MEAC) led 54-53 with 3:43 remaining thanks to an 8-0 run, but failed to score over their next seven possessions despite some golden opportunities, which included three missed FT's, three turnovers, a missed lay-up and a missed three-pointer. During that stretch, Norfolk (8-14, 8-7) outscored the Lady Hawks 6-0, all at the foul line, to take a 59-54 lead with under 20 seconds remaining.
Toni Kennedy hit a late three-point shot with 3.6 seconds left to cut the deficit to two, then UMES had to foul NSU's Shaylnn Leonard with 1.2 tics on the clock. Leonard missed both FT's, but without a timeout the Lady Hawks were not able to get a shot off as the final buzzer sounded.
Jamila Griffith led UMES with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Kristi Veltkamp had 11 points, six rebounds and four blocks. The guard trio of Toia Johnson, Shenae Johnson and Ashley Bowman paced NSU with 11 points apiece.
UMES Lady Hawks (10-14, 8-7 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
1/19 at Norfolk St.* L 46-63
1/24 Morgan State* W 65-51
1/26 Coppin State* L 51-77
1/29 at N.C. A&T* W 85-75 (OT)
1/31 vs. S. Car. St.* W 63-53
2/2 at American W 62-59 (OT)
2/5 at Delaware St.* L 46-60
2/7 at Howard* L 41-67
2/12 Florida A&M* W 60-54
2/14 Beth-Cookman* W 54-49
2/19 Norfolk State* L 57-59
Upcoming Games:
Date Game Time
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 concludes a four-game home stand with a senior night match-up against the second-place Hampton Pirates Monday at the Hytche Center. UMES will honor its lone active senior Jareem Dowling prior to the game. The Hawks (2-21, 1-13 MEAC) have dropped the first three games of the stand, falling to FAMU, Bethune-Cookman and Norfolk State Saturday.
The Pirates (12-11, 10-4 MEAC), who started the season 3-9 (1-2 MEAC), have won nine of their last 11 games to move into a tie for 2nd place in the conference. Hampton beat the Hawks 80-54 Jan. 17th led by Bruce Brown's 31 points.
Scouting the Pirates
The Hampton Pirates (12-11, 10-4 MEAC), come into Monday's contest winners of three straight and nine of their last 11 games, including home wins over N.C A&T and S.C. State last week. The team began the season 1-2 in the MEAC (3-9 overall), but now stands in second place, a half game behind first-place Coppin State.
The Pirates, led by third-year head coach Bobby Collins, finished 11-7 in the conference last season and lost in the quarterfinals to eventual-champion FAMU on a Terrance Woods buzzer-beating three-pointer.
Big man Bruce Brown is leading Hampton in scoring (14.8 ppg) and is second in rebounding (6.3 rpg). Senior Devin Green, a preseason MEAC first-team selection, is second in scoring (13.1 ppg) and is first in rebounding (6.8 rpg).
The Pirates beat UMES 80-54 in Hampton on January 17th, as Brown scored a career-high 31 points, going an incredible 15-19 from the field. Hampton has won the past 10 meetings between the two teams.
News and Notes
The Hawks activated two practice players for Saturday's game: junior guard Terrell Harris and junior forward Jamar Taylor, and each played in the game. Neither had previously dressed for a D-I game...UMES is averaging 56 ppg through 24 games (11th in MEAC). UMES is shooting 38% from the field, 61% from the foul line and 29% from three-point range...UMES is allowing 79 ppg to its opponents this season (11th in MEAC), and has twice given up at least 100 points...The Hawks are 1-12 away from the Hytche Center this season (and 1-10 at home)...The Hawks began the season 1-13 for the 2nd straight year, and 1-12 for the 3rd straight. After going 1-13 last season, the Hawks ran off wins in six of their next nine to improve to 7-16. In `02-'03, the team finished 5-23, and last season 8-21...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.
Spartan Charge
The Hawks lost their home contest against Norfolk State, 68-52 Saturday at the Hytche Center. UMES fell behind by as many as 21 points and shot 30% from the field in the loss.
Norfolk State (12-11, 10-5 MEAC) sprinted to a 13-2 run to open the game, holding the Hawks (2-22, 1-14) to one field goal in the first five minutes of the game, but UMES outscored the Spartans 13-5 over the next four minutes to close within five points of the lead at 7:11. NSU took command from there however, going on a 14-0 run capped off by a buzzer-beating three by Armand Massogo at the end of the half. The Hawks missed their final eight shots, helping the Spartans to a 21-point lead at the break, 38-17.
UMES opened the second half on a 10-3 run, and would get within 11 points thanks to inspired play from walk-on Terrell Harris (nine points after the break), but free-throws down the stretch allowed Norfolk to go back ahead by as many as 20 en route to the 16-point win.
Corey Brown led the Hawks with 18 points (16 in the second half), while Chakowby Hicks scored 18 to lead the Spartans.
UMES HAWKS AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
3 Aly Samabaly G 6'3 200 Jr. 3.4 3.1
Had 11 pts (4-11 FG's) vs. NSU...Averaging 9.5 ppg the past 4 games (38)...Career-high 14 pts vs. B-CC 2/14...Has started 17 straight games at PG...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.
5 Corey Brown G 6'0 158 Jr. 11.7 2.0
Had 18 pts (16 in 2nd half) vs. NSU...Averaging 18.3 ppg (73) the past 4 games...Career-high 21 pts at Howard 2/7...Leads team in scoring, assists and FT shooting (77%)...Averaging 4.5 TO's per game...2004 transfer from Mott C.C. (Flint, MI), won a JUCO national championship in `02-'03.
32 Ryan Leak G 6'4 185 Fr. 6.2 1.1
0 pts, 9 total min past 2 gms (1 DNP)...Averaging 8.9 ppg his past eight games (71 pts)...Career-high 20 pts (11-12 FT's) vs. SC St. 1/31...Has started 14 of past 20 games (0 starts in first 4 gms)...True freshman from Jamaica, NY, averaged 21 ppg for Bayside H.S. his senior season.
33 Jareem Dowling F 6'6 235 Sr. 7.8 5.3
Had 3 pts, 4 rebs before fouling out vs. NSU...Struggling past 5 weeks, shooting 24-97 FG's past 13 gms (25%), and 16-70 FG's past 10 (23%, season 29%)...Career-high 22 pts at Baylor 12/22...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. 11.6 8.4
Had 7 pts, 11 rebs vs. NSU...Has 10 double-doubles in last 15 games (0 in prior 34 career games)...Averaging 14.2 ppg (227) and 10.3 rpg (164) the past 16 games, after averaging 6.4 ppg and 4.6 rpg the first 8 games...Career-high 28 pts, also 15 rebs at Howard 2/7...Career-high 19 rebs vs. Coppin 1/26...One of two returning starters from `03-'04 (Jareem Dowling)...2003 transfer from Ellsworth C.C. (Iowa Falls, Ia).
Reserves
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
15 Louis Brookins F 6'6 215 Fr. 2.8 0.9
Last 15 gms, car-high 11 pts at NSU 1/19, but 18 total pts the other 15...Freshman from Silver Spring, Md., first recruit signed by Larry Lessett.
20 Terrell Harris G 6'1 175 Jr. 9.0 1.0
Walk-on scored 9 pts (all in 2nd half) in 19 min in 1st game of season vs. NSU...Played baseball for UMES in 2004, pitched 20 gms (0-1, 9.89 ERA).
21 Shondale Robinson F 6'5 208 Jr. 1.9 2.1
1 pt, 3 rebs vs. NSU...Career-high 8 pts vs. Coppin 1/26...Already has scored 45 points this season (4 all last season)...Nicknamed "Texas"...Returnee from `03-'04, when he walked onto team in late December.
22 Jamar Taylor F 6'4 260 Jr. 3.0 5.0
Walk-on had 3 pts and 5 rebs in his 1st game of season vs. NSU.
23 Anthony Davis F 6'3 190 So. 2.6 1.2
0 pts in 7 min vs. NSU...Career-high 9 pts vs. UMBC 12/1 + at N.C. A&T 1/31...2004 transfer from Bunker Hill C.C. (Boston, MA).
24 Stephen Kallman G 6'1 165 So. 0.3 0.2
Played in 12 games this season, total 21 min, 3 pts, 2 rebs, 3 FG attps...Transfer from Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL), did not play there.
30 Tal Cohen F 6'8 230 Fr. 1.3 1.0
Struggled past 13 gms; total 5 pts (0.4 ppg) and 10 rebs (0.8 rpg)...Played in every game this season...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 since 12/18 at Nich., played 7 games this season.
45 x-Jason McKinnon C 6'11 270 Sr. 7.3 4.9
No longer with the team since 1/24 vs. MSU...Played 15 gms this season.
UMES Hawks (2-21, 1-13 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
1/19 at Norfolk State* L 56-74
1/24 Morgan State* L 60-80
1/26 Coppin State* L 55-78
1/29 at N.C. A&T* L 59-74
1/31 S. Carolina St.* L 36-67
2/5 at Delaware St.* L 45-71
2/7 at Howard* W 88-74
2/12 Florida A&M* L 57-70
2/14 Beth-Cookman* L 58-68
2/19 Norfolk State* L 52-68
Upcoming Games
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 NBA games over three seasons, including stints with the Sacramento Kings (1992), Cleveland Cavaliers (`97 + `98), Golden State Warriors (`98) and Orlando Magic (`98). He averaged 2.9 ppg.
