Feb. 27, 2004
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The Men's Game
The UMES men's basketball team looks to bounce back from two close conference losses in a MEAC contest against first-place Coppin State at the Coppin Center Saturday. The Hawks (7-18, 6-10 MEAC) are coming off a 79-71 loss to Hampton in their home finale Monday night.
The Eagles have a half-game lead over South Carolina State for first place in the conference coming into play Saturday, though Coppin has two games remaining while the Bulldogs have three. The first time the teams met, the Eagles defeated the Hawks 68-42 on January 24th.
Scouting the Eagles
The Coppin State Eagles enter play Saturday at 14-13 and 12-4 in MEAC play. The team has won six of its last seven games, but lost its previous game Monday at South Carolina State 68-65.
The Eagles, one of two MEAC teams with an overall winning record this season, played several tough non-conference games this season, including losses at Xavier (62-37), Cincinnati (76-56), Missouri (70-61) and Michigan State (78-72).
Coppin State is coached by Athletic Director Ronald "Fang" Mitchell, who is now in his 17th season with the Eagles and has 289 victories and five Coach of the Year honors. His team is led in scoring and rebounding by Jimmy Boykin, a first-team all-conference preseason selection who is averaging 14.1 ppg and 5.5 rpg. Two first-year players from Philadelphia, Kelvin Green (11.8 ppg) and Nicholas King (10.8 ppg) are the other Eagle players averaging in double-figures.
News and Notes
Tee Trotter has now scored 1,840 points in his career at UMES, and last Saturday passed Levi Fountaine (1,816) for second-place on the school's all-time scoring list. On Feb. 12th, he passed Ken Simmons (1,748) to become the school's all-time Division-I scoring leader...On Feb. 17th, Trotter was named MEAC Player of the Week by the conference for the third week in a row, after leading the Hawks to a 2-1 record. The senior is now averaging 18.3 ppg this season, which is second in the MEAC to FAMU's Terrence Woods (19.8). Tee is leading all conference players with 19.0 ppg in MEAC contests...It took UMES 22 games this season to better its win total from all of '02-'03 (7-18 now, 5-23 overall last season)...The Hawks have struggled from the field so far this season, coming into play Saturday shooting only 38% as a team...The Hawks have two family connections between players and coaches. Tee Trotter is head coach Thomas Trotter's son, while center Tim Parham is a cousin of assistant coach Paris Parham.
Close But No Cigar
Playing most of the game without their star senior on the night he was honored, UMES stayed close throughout against the Hampton Pirates before succumbing 79-71 at the Hytche Center Monday night.
Senior Tee Trotter, honored along with six other Hawks graduating seniors in a special pre-game ceremony, hurt his knee only minutes into the game and was only able to log 16 minutes, 10 in the first half. He scored eight points, ten below his season average, but his teammates kept the game within reaching distance without his presence on the court.
After trailing by as many as 12 points in the second half, the Hawks pulled within 72-70 with 45 seconds left on a steal and lay up by Aaron Wellington. Lawrence Smith, who played a season-high 30 minutes and scored a career-high seven points in the absence of Trotter, knocked the ball away from Hampton's Devin Green to set up Wellington's lay in.
After a timeout, Hampton's Jeff Granger hit one of two free throws, and Tim Parham grabbed the rebound for the Hawks with 19 seconds left trailing 73-70. Trotter checked into the game in spite of his knee injury, and was fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass, but the senior was only able to make the second of two free throws however, and Hampton got the ball to Granger again after the made shot.
This time Granger hit both foul shots with 18 seconds left, and the Pirates' David Johnson stole Joiner's inbounds pass. Johnson hit both free throws to put Hampton ahead by six and seal the win.
UMES ROSTER AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
1 Tee Trotter G 5'11 180 Sr. 18.3 2.1
During Hawks last 11 games (6-5), averaging 23.2 ppg (255 pts) and three times has been named MEAC Player of the Week...Only Hawk to start every game...Hit GW shot with 4 sec. left to beat Howard 56-55 on 2/9...Scored season-high 36 pts (12-21 FGs, 7-12 3's) at FAMU 1/31 (most pts scored in game by a Hawks player this season)....Second in MEAC in scoring last season (20.5 ppg)...MEAC second-team preseason selection, and candidate for Francis Pomery Naismith Award (for the nation's best player under 6'0).
32 Aaron Wellington G 5'11 160 So. 11.4 2.9
Scored 18 pts (6-11 FGs, 4-8 3's), all in second half vs. Hampton....Season-high 23 pts, 18 in second half, at Sav. St 1/29...Team's second-leading scorer so far this season and was also in '02-'03...Pure shooter with knack for scoring.
44 Jareem Dowling F 6'6 235 Jr. 4.0 2.7
2 pts and 0 reb in 19 min vs. Hampton...Tied career-high with 12 pts (5-9 FGs) in 35 min vs. Morgan St. 1/27...Shooting 32-117 FGs (27%) this season (10-49 3's-20%)...Transfer from Cecil C.C. averaged 11 pts and 6 rebounds in '02-'03.
4 Javes Wiggins F 6'7 220 Sr. 5.3 6.5
12 pts, 3 reb vs Hampton...Career-high 15 rebs vs. NC A&T 2/14...Season-high 14 pts at Del. St. 2/7...Leads team in rebounding, currently 5th in conference...Was team's leading rebounder in '02-'03, also third-leading returning scorer.
42 Tim Parham C 6'9 240 Jr. 6.3 3.3
18 pts (6-9 FGs, 6-9 FTs) and 4 rebs vs. Hampton...Had 18 pts, 5 rebs, 4 blks in 25 min vs. NC A&T 2/14...Scored 20 pts (8-10 FGs) vs. PSU 12/27 (only 2nd D-I game)...Junior-college transfer joined team 12/20 after end of fall semester.
Reserves
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
3 DeWitt Scott G 6'6 200 Fr. 2.7 1.6
Played combined 22 min past 7 games (0 pts) after DNP the previous 4 games...Career high 9 pts, 11 rebs at Norfolk St. 1/17...True freshman from Chicago.
5 Lawrence Smith G 5'10 150 Jr. 0.8 0.5
Career-high 7 pts (3-5 FGs) along with 4 assts, 3 rebs in career-high 30 min vs. Hampton...Defensive specialist with quick hands, serves as backup point guard.
10 Marcus Gutierrez G 6'4 185 So. 1.3 1.3
DNP (coach's decision) last 12 games....Scored career-high 6 pts (3-5 FGs) in 12 min vs. Del St...Added to roster following conclusion of fall semester.
13 Kirk Wesley F 6'3 190 Sr. 0.5 0.1
Played 1 min vs. Hampton, before had 10 straight DNP's...Has played in 10 of 25 games...All 5 pts this season from foul line...Hard-nosed, athletic player.
14 Jermaul Akanbi G 6'2 165 So. 0.6 0.2
Played 1 min vs. Hampton, before had 10 straight DNP's...Has played in 5 games this season...Scored only FG vs. Coppin State 1/24 (2 pts, 1 asst).
21 Antoine Joiner F 6'5 180 Jr. 4.0 2.6
6 pts, 4 assts in 29 min vs. Hampton...12 pts (3-4 3's) vs. S.C. St. 2/16 (first start in 13 games)...Hit GW FTs w/ 9 sec. left at Sav. St. 1/29...Season-high 13 pts v. Del St 1/3...Shooting 28-86 FGs (33%) this season, but 22-26 FTs (85%).
25 Brandon Wilson G 6'4 190 R-Fr. 1.3 0.9
DNP last 2 games...2 pts in 4 min vs. S.C. St. 2/16, his first points in 7 games...Scored career-high 6 points at Ill...Freshman season, from Long Island, NY.
33 Didier Socka F 6'7 225 Sr. 3.6 3.0
0 pts, 0 rebs in 8 min vs. Hampton...Career-high 17 pts (8-10 FGs) in 19 min vs. BCC 2/2...Started first two games of season, came off bench in every game since....Returning leader in FG % (47%) and blocked shots (15) from '02-'03.
35 Shondale Robinson F 6'5 200 So. 0.0 0.8
13 straight DNP's (has not played since Norfolk St. game 1/17)...Played career-high 12 min at S Car St 1/12 (0 pts, 3 rebs, 2 blk)...No pts this season (0-3 FG).
55 Jason McKinnon C 6'11 270 Jr. 2.5 3.0
0 pts combined in the last 17 games (includes 4 starts, 10 DNP)...Has started 9 of 25 games...Only double-double of season (11 pts, 11 rebs) at RMU 12/21.
UMES Hawks (7-18, 6-10)
Previous games:
Date Game Result
11/2 Tm. Champ. (ex) W 58-54
11/14 One on One (ex) W 88-78
11/23 at Auburn L 61-85
12/11 at Illinois L 43-85
12/21 at Robert Morris L 63-70
12/27 Portland State L 61-80
12/30 Towson L 53-61
1/3 Delaware State* L 55-60
1/5 Howard* L 50-70
1/6 at Maryland L 38-87
1/10 at N.C. A&T* W 52-50
1/12 at S Carolina St* L 53-78
1/14 at Elon L 51-54
1/17 at Norfolk State* L 54-67
1/19 at Hampton* L 62-75
1/24 Coppin State* L 42-68
1/27 Morgan State* W 85-72
1/29 at Savannah St. W 62-61
1/31 at Florida A&M* L 74-79
2/2 Bethune-Cook.* L 70-71 (2OT)
2/7 at Delaware St.* W 69-66 (OT)
2/9 at Howard* W 56-55
2/12 Savannah State L 59-73
2/14 N.C. A&T* W 65-58 (OT)
2/16 S. Carolina St.* W 64-61
2/21 Norfolk State* L 67-63
2/23 Hampton* L 71-79
Upcoming schedule:
Date Game Time
2/28 at Coppin State* 7:30
3/1 at Morgan State* 8:00
3/8-12 MEAC Tourn. TBA (Richmond, VA)
*denotes MEAC conference game
Thomas Trotter- Head Coach
Head Coach Thomas Trotter is in his fourth season at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. After a 5-23 season in 2002-03 and a 7-18 start this season, Trotter has a 35-75 overall record (.318 win pct.).
Before his stint at UMES, Trotter was the first assistant men's basketball coach at New Mexico State University from 1998-2000 under legendary coach Lou Henson, who is currently the 7th winningest Division I coach in NCAA history.
NMSU made postseason appearances in each of Trotter's two seasons as a coach, winning the Big West Championship and losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to 3rd seeded Kentucky in 1999, then reaching the NIT in 2000 and falling to Arizona State in the first round.
For a ten-year span (1988-97), Trotter served as the first assistant men's basketball coach at Northeastern Illinois University, the winningest Division I program in Chicago three out of Trotter's final four years as a coach. Before his time at NEIU, Trotter spent two seasons coaching at the high school level.
Coach Trotter received his Bachelor of Arts degree in labor relations in 1985 from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. In 1992 he obtained a Master of Science in educational administration, then in 1994 he obtained a Master of Science Education in education curriculum and instruction, each from Northwestern University.
Assistant Coaches
Paris Parham- Assistant Coach
Third-year assistant basketball coach Paris Parham came to UMES from Minnesota State University, where he served as an assistant coach from 1995-2001. 'Coach P' also served as assistant to the athletic director and a coordinator for the Maverick Academic Center at Minnesota State.
Parham was a player at Lincoln College in Lincoln, IL, where he served as team captain in both of his playing seasons. He then went on to play at Minnesota State from 1993-1995, and was selected team captain in 1995. Parham was an all-conference selection in the North Central Conference that season. He ranks eighth all-time at Minnesota State in career assists.
Brian Kusnierz- Assistant Coach
Coach Brian Kusnierz is a third-year assistant coach with the UMES basketball program. He was previously at Concordia University in River Forest, IL, where he served two seasons as an assistant coach.
A three-year starter at Angelo State University in Texas, Kusnierz served as team captain for the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons. An all-conference selection in 1998, he was voted as the team's Most Valuable Player. He finished his playing career ranked in the school's top three list in assists and steals.
The Women's Game
The UMES Lady Hawks go for their fifth win in six games as they open the regular season's final weekend with a MEAC contest against Coppin State Saturday. The game tips off at 5:30 p.m. from the Coppin Center.
The Lady Hawks are coming off an 82-62 loss against Hampton Monday that ended a four-game winning streak. UMES lost to the Lady Eagles 63-55 January 24th, as Liesel Harry scored 19 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, while Antoinette Reese scored 20 points.
News and Notes
During the Lady Hawks' four-game winning streak that ended Monday, the team was on fire offensively. UMES averaged 88 ppg (350 total) during the four games, and had an average margin of victory of 27 points. During the streak, UMES outscored its opponents 192-110 in the second half. Monday however, Hampton outscored UMES 42-26 after halftime...In spite of the Lady Hawks' sub-par conference record, nine of the team's 11 MEAC losses have come by 9 points or fewer. The team has led in the second half in 8 of those 11 losses...After a slow start to the season, UMES guard Laconia Hatcher has caught fire. Hatcher, who failed to score double-figures in any of the first five games this season, has scored in double-figures in 17 of the 20 games since, and is now the Lady Hawks' second-leading scorer at 13.0 ppg....Tiffany Winkfield recorded her 14th double-double of the season last Saturday against Norfolk St. (27 pts, 20 rebs). The senior is leading UMES with both 14.3 ppg and 10.6 rpg (also leads the MEAC)....The Lady Hawks have been a second-half team in '03-'04. Despite the team's losing record, UMES has out-scored its opponents 927-854 in the second half this season.
Silenced by Pirates
Hampton University's Lady Pirates put a stop to the Lady Hawks' four-game winning streak, 82-62 Monday night at the Hytche Center.
UMES lead the Lady Pirates 24-15 in the first ten minutes of the game, and by as many as 12 points on two occasions, but Hampton went on a 20-6 run regaining the lead at the end of the first half. Brendy Ellis hit a three pointer with six seconds left before halftime to advance the Lady Pirates' lead to four at the half.
Within the first ten minutes of the second half, the Lady Pirates went on a 24-7 run and never looked back after that, defeating the Lady Hawks at their last home game of the season.
Laconia Hatcher (19 points) and LaToshia Bailey (12 points) led UMES, but they were no match for Hampton's Nicole Brathwaite (27 points), Sharema Dean (18 points) and Lynetta Sullivan (10 points).
UMES Hawks (10-15, 5-11)
Previous games:
Date Game Result
11/15 NWBL Elite (ex) W 102-97
11/21 at Memphis L 63-89
11/23 at Ark-Pine Bluff W 77-60
11/28 vs. Louis.-Laf.# W 60-57
11/29 at Maryland# L 65-97
12/3 at St. Francis L 48-56
12/20 at Towson L 67-92
1/3 Delaware State* L 50-52
1/5 Howard* L 74-79
1/10 at N.C. A&T* L 61-68
1/12 at S. Carolina St* L 68-75
1/17 at Norfolk State* W 72-63
1/19 at Hampton* L 59-60
1/24 Coppin State* L 55-63
1/27 Morgan State* W 95-57
1/29 at Savannah St. W 65-57
1/31 at Florida A&M* L 60-63
2/2 Bethune-Cook.* L 61-70
2/4 American W 80-73
2/7 at Delaware St.* L 58-64
2/9 at Howard* L 74-88
2/12 Savannah State W 86-60
2/14 N.C. A&T* W 83-49
2/16 S. Carolina St.* W 94-61
2/21 Norfolk State* W 87-72
2/23 Hampton* L 62-82
Upcoming schedule:
Date Game Time
2/28 at Coppin State* 5:30
3/1 at Morgan State* 5:00
3/8-12 MEAC Tourn. TBA (Richmond, VA)
*Denotes MEAC conference game
# at Terrapin Classic, UMCP
Surina Dixon- Head Coach
Surina Dixon is in her fourth season as head coach for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's Lady Hawks basketball team. Her teams have compiled a 39-72 overall record (.353 win pct.) to date, after starting 10-15 and having earned 12 victories in each of the past two seasons (after only five in 2000-01).
Prior to her arrival at UMES, Coach Dixon served as head assistant coach at Arkansas State University, where she helped guide the Lady Indians to their first ever Top 25 national ranking. Coach Dixon was also an assistant at Texas Southern University.
Before collegiate athletics, Coach Dixon coached for ten seasons in Memphis, Tennessee at Germantown Middle School. There Dixon won eight district and six county championships, had five undefeated seasons, and compiled an overall record of 165-29.
While transitioning to the college ranks, Dixon had an opportunity to both play and coach two seasons of professional basketball with the WBA's Memphis Blues. She has also worked as a coach and instructor at various camps, including the 2000 WNBA Houston Comets' training camp.
At Rosedale High School in Rosedale, Miss., Dixon captained both the basketball and track teams. She then played at Mississippi Valley State University, where she graduated in 1983. Dixon later obtained her Master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Mississippi.
Assistant Coach
Destiney Avent- Assistant Coach
Destiney Avent is in her first season as an assistant coach at UMES. She has returned to her alma mater ('02) after spending one season as the head women's basketball coach at Montgomery Community College.
Avent played for two seasons at UMES. In 2002, she was named the UMES female student-athlete of the year, as well as team MVP. Before that, Avent played two seasons at Tallahassee Community College.
MEAC 2003-04 Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
Rk School Pts
1. Hampton (13) 413
2. Delaware St. (5) 385
3. Florida A&M 339
4. Bethune-Cook. 283
5. Howard (1) 261
6. MD East. Shore 203
7. S. Carolina St. 188
8. Coppin State 177
9. Norfolk State 143
10. N. Carolina A&T 119
11. Morgan State 33
(first-place votes in parenthesis)
All-MEAC First Team
G Yolanda Dixon, FAMU
G Mandy Clark, Delaware St.
F Lynetta Sullivan, Hampton
F LaKesha Wills, Coppin St.
C Kim Watson, FAMU
Second Team
G Terrell Waller, Delaware St.
G Katie Clark, Bethune-Cook.
F Tiffany Winkfield, UMES
F Lauren Forsthoff, Bethune-Cook
C Nicole Brathwaite, Hampton
-As selected in a preseason vote of MEAC coaches and Sports Information Directors
