March 7, 2005
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The Game
The #11-seeded UMES men's basketball team begins MEAC Tournament play with a first-round match-up against #6-seed Morgan State Monday in Richmond. The Hawks (2-25, 1-17 MEAC) have dropped six straight coming in, including a 26-point loss at Morgan in their regular-season finale last Tuesday .
The Bears (13-15, 11-7 MEAC), winners of 10 of their last 14 following a 3-11 start to the season, finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the conference, but earned the #6 seed based on the tiebreaking procedure (overall record). Morgan beat the Hawks twice this season: 80-60 Jan. 24th for one of the team's three road victories this season, and 94-68 last Tuesday in Baltimore.
Scouting the Bears
The Morgan State Bears (13-15, 11-7 MEAC) come into the MEAC Tournament winners of two straight and 10 out of 14 overall, all in MEAC play. The team, which started the season 3-11 overall (1-3 MEAC), finished in a fourth-place tie with South Carolina State and Norfolk State, but earned the #6 seed based on the overall record tiebreaking procedure (S.C. St. 18-11, NSU 13-13, Morgan 13-15).
The Bears, coached by former NBA player and head coach Butch Beard, were been a dominant home team this season, compiling a 10-1 record (8-1 MEAC) at Hill Field House, with the lone loss coming to first-place Coppin State in December. The team won only three away games (3-14), but earned revenge against Coppin with a 59-57 upset at the Eagles on Saturday.
Sam Brand, one of the top shooters in the MEAC, leads MSU in scoring at 13.7 ppg. Fellow seniors Aaron Andrews (11.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg), a second-team preseason all-conference selection, and Chris Grant (9.3 ppg) help pace the Bears attack. The Bears beat UMES twice this season, including a 94-68 win last Tuesday behind 22 points (11-11 FG's) and eight rebounds from Andrews.
News and Notes
UMES has only one player on its active roster (Tim Parham) who has previously played more than one minute in a MEAC Tournament game (2 GP last season, 5.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg). Shondale Robinson did not play in either UMES tournament game last season, while Jareem Dowling played only seconds in the MEAC's due to an injury...The Hawks averaged 57 ppg in 27 games this season (11th in MEAC). UMES shot 38% from the field and 61% from the foul line...UMES allowed 79 ppg this season (11th in MEAC), and three times gave up at least 100 points...The Hawks activated two practice players Feb. 19th- juniors Terrell Harris and Jamar Taylor- and each played in the last four games of the regular season. Neither had previously dressed for a D-I game...The Hawks are 1-14 on the road this season (and 1-11 at home)...UMES began the season 1-13 for the 2nd straight year, and 1-12 for the 3rd straight. In `02-'03, the team finished 5-23, and last season 8-21...The Hawks returned only five players from last season's team (three currently active) 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.
Previous Meetings
UMES dropped two lopsided contests to Morgan State this season, including a 94-68 loss in Baltimore last Tuesday. Led by senior Aaron Andrews' perfect night of 22 points (11-11 FG's) and eight boards, MSU had four players in double-figures for the second time this season against the Hawks.
Playing in their final home game, the senior trio of Andrews, Chris Grant and Sam Brand combined to score 48 of the teams' 94 points, the second most points scored in a MEAC game this season (Coppin St. 100 vs. UMES 2/26). Andrews scored 18 of his game-high total in the first half, as the Bears cruised to the 26-point win.
In the teams' first meeting January 24th in Princess Anne, Morgan State handed the Hawks their 13th straight loss with an 80-60 victory. Morgan broke open a seven-point game with a 23-3 run early in the second half to put the game out of reach.
UMES trailed only 24-19 late in the first, but Morgan responded with a 16-7 spurt to take a 40-26 lead at the break. The Hawks scored the first seven points after halftime, but the Bears then took command, scoring 23 of the next 26 points in the game over a seven-minute stretch. Timothy Berkley led four MSU players in double-figures with 16 points.
UMES HAWKS AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
3 Aly Samabaly G 6'3 200 Jr. 3.7 3.1
6 pts in 32 min at Morgan...Has 19 TO's the past 3 games...Averaging 8.1 ppg the past 7 games (57)...Has started 20 straight games at PG...Career-high 14 pts vs. B-CC 2/14...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.
5 Corey Brown G 6'0 158 Jr. 12.0 2.0
Had 12 pts in 32 min at Morgan...Averaging 16.6 ppg (116) the past 7 games...Leads team in scoring, assists and FT shooting (76%)...Averaging 4.5 TO's per game...Career-high 21 pts at Howard 2/7...2004 transfer from Mott C.C. (Flint, MI), won a JUCO national championship in `02-'03.
20 Terrell Harris G 6'1 175 Jr. 6.3 1.8
Walk-on had 7 pts (5-8 FT's) in first-career start at Morgan...Scored 9 pts in 1st game of season vs. NSU 2/19...Played baseball for UMES in 2004, pitched in 20 games (0-1, 9.89), may re-join baseball after basketball season.
33 Jareem Dowling F 6'6 235 Sr. 7.9 5.2
Had 13 pts (3-11 FG's) at Morgan...Struggled past 7 weeks, shooting 25% from the field (31-123) the past 16 gms, and 24% (23-96) past 12 (29% for the season)...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 8.5
Led MEAC in rebounding...14 pts, 9 rebs at Morgan...Has 11 double-doubles in last 18 games (0 in prior 34 career games)...Averaging 13.7 ppg (261) and 10.1 rpg (192) the past 19 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. 3.1 1.0
Has 12 pts past 2 gms, after 4 DNP's + 5 total pts in previous eight gms...Freshman from Silver Spring, Md, first recruit signed by Larry Lessett.
21 Shondale Robinson F 6'5 208 Jr. 1.8 2.1
0 pts in 6 min at Morgan...Career-high 8 pts vs. Coppin 1/26...Already has scored 49 points this season (4 all last season)...Nicknamed "Texas"...Returnee from `03-'04, when he walked onto team in late Dec.
22 Jamar Taylor F 6'4 260 Jr. 1.3 2.0
2 pts, 1 reb at Morgan...Walk-on had 3 pts, 5 rebs in 1st game vs. NSU 2/19.
23 Anthony Davis F 6'3 190 So. 2.7 1.3
5 pts (2-2 FG's), 4 TO's at Morgan...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. 0.2 0.2
Played in 13 games this season, total 22 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. 1.4 1.2
Had 5 pts, car-high 5 rebs at Morgan...Freshman from Hadera, Israel, played on the Israeli Junior National Team while in the Israeli Army for three years.
32 Ryan Leak G 6'4 185 Fr. 5.7 1.0
Has only 4 total pts (0.8 ppg), 39 total min the past 5 gms (1 DNP) after averaging 10.1 ppg the previous seven games...Has come off bench 4 of last 5 games...Career-high 20 pts (11-12 FT's) vs. SC St. 1/31...True freshman from Jamaica, NY, averaged 21 ppg for Bayside H.S. his senior season.
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 (2-25, 1-17 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
2/21 Hampton* L 55-70
2/26 at Coppin State* L 53-100
3/1 at Morgan State* L 68-94
Upcoming Games
3/7 Morgan St (MEAC First Round) 3:00
*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.
MEAC 2004-05 Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
Rk School Points
1. S Car. St. (14) 422
2. Hampton (3) 354
3. Coppin State 320
4. Fla. A&M (2) 306
5. Delaware St. (1) 302
6. Norfolk State 256
7. Morgan State (2) 216
8.Bethune-Cook. 156
9. Howard 150
10. Md. East. Shore 100
11. N Carolina A&T 84
(first-place votes in parenthesis)
Preseason MEAC First Team
G Devin Green, Hampton
G Chakowby Hicks, Norfolk St.
F Brian Mason, SC St.
F Terrance Hunter, Delaware St.
F Thurman Zimmerman, SC St.
Second Team
G Louis Ford, Howard
G Jeff Granger, Hampton
G Raheem Scott, Coppin St.
F Nicholas King, Coppin St.
F Aaron Andrews, Morgan St.
Preseason Player of the Year:
Thurman Zimmerman, SC St.
-Selected in a vote by MEAC coaches and Sports Information Directors
