March 10, 2004
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The Men's Game
The #9 UMES men's basketball team continues conference tournament play with a match-up against #1 South Carolina State Wednesday at the Richmond Coliseum. The Hawks (8-20, 6-12 MEAC) won their first MEAC tournament game since 1999 yesterday with a victory over Bethune-Cookman.
UMES defeated the Bulldogs February 16th in Princess Anne, but the team's went in opposite directions after that game. The Hawks dropped their final four regular-season games following that win, while S.C. State won five straight afterwards to end the regular season.
Scouting the Bulldogs
The South Carolina State Bulldogs come into the MEAC tournament as the #1 seed after going 14-4 in conference games during the regular season. The Bulldogs tied Coppin State for the regular-season championship, but won the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Eagles to become the top seed.
S.C. State, the defending MEAC champions, are coached by first-year head man Ben Betts, who came to Orangeburg to replace Cy Alexander. Alexander guided the team to the NCAA Tournament last season, where they fell to #1-seeded Oklahoma in the first round.
This season's Bulldogs squad enters the conference tournament red hot, having won five straight games following a loss to UMES on February 16th. Thurman Zimmerman, the MEAC player of the year, is currently 2nd in the conference in scoring at 18.8 ppg and first in rebounding (8.4 rpg). Rookie of the year Brian Mason averages 13.3 ppg and 4.9 rpg, and is shooting 55 % from the field.
News and Notes
Tee Trotter, who was named a second-team All-MEAC selection, has now scored 1,887 points in his career at UMES, and on Feb. 21st 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. The senior is now averaging 18.7 ppg this season, which is third in the MEAC to FAMU's Terrence Woods (20.4) and SCSU's Zimmerman (18.8). Tee finished second in the conference in scoring last season (20.5 ppg)...It took UMES 22 games this season to better its win total from all of '02-'03 (8-20 now, 5-23 overall last season). Last year UMES tied for 9th place in the MEAC, while this year they finished alone in 9th...The Hawks have struggled from the field so far this season, coming into play Wednesday 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.
Splitting This Season
UMES and South Carolina State split two regular-season meetings this season, with each team winning on its home court. January 12th in Orangeburg, Brian Mason and Shawn Wiggins each scored 22 points to lead the Bulldogs to an easy 78-53 win over the Hawks. UMES (1-9, 1-3 MEAC) trailed by 14 at halftime and by as many as 31 points in the second half before falling by 25 points.
The game was tied at 13 with 11:51 remaining in the first half, but then the Bulldogs (6-7, 3-1 MEAC) pulled away with a 15-0 run. The Hawks went over eight minutes without scoring and fell behind 28-13 before Tee Trotter finally hit a three-point shot. South Carolina State picked up in the second half right where they left off, taking with a 12-4 run at the outset of the half to build a 44-22 point lead. Wiggins scored 19 of his 22 in the second half to help the Bulldogs pull away.
February 16th at the Hytche Center, the Hawks exacted revenge and won their fourth-straight conference game with a 64-61 upset of South Carolina State. In a game that featured 15 ties, UMES (7-16, 6-8 MEAC) took the lead for good with 1:21 remaining on a free throw by Antoine Joiner.
With time ticking down and UMES up by two points, the Bulldogs (12-10, 9-4 MEAC) went to leading scorer Thurman Zimmerman (29 points), but Zimmerman missed a three-footer inside and Hawks forward Javes Wiggins was fouled with 14 seconds left. After the senior hit one of two free throws, Brandon Trapp missed a three-point shot that would have tied the game and UMES held on for the victory. UMES got 21 points from Tee Trotter and 12 from Joiner to lead the offense, while Wiggins pitched in seven points and seven rebounds.
UMES ROSTER AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
1 Tee Trotter G 5'11 180 Sr. 18.7 2.1
12 pts, all in first half vs. BCC...Scored 35 pts (17-17 FTs) at Morgan 3/1, 28 of those in the second half. Missed game at Coppin St. two days earlier b/c of knee injury...During his last 13 games, averaging 23.2 ppg (302 pts) and three times has been named MEAC Player of the Week...Hit GW shot with 4 sec. left to beat Howard 56-55 on 2/9...Season-high 36 pts (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), second this season...MEAC second-team 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. 11.7 2.9
Season-high 25 pts (7-13 3's) in 37 min off the bench at Morgan 3/1 ...Leads Hawks with 65 three-pointers this season (65-182, 36%)...Team's second-leading scorer this season, was also in '02-'03...Pure shooter with knack for scoring.
21 Antoine Joiner F 6'5 180 Jr. 4.2 2.8
6 pts, 8 rebs in 38 min vs. BCC (3rd straight start)....Season-high 13 pts v. Del St 1/3...Shooting 34-103 FGs (33%) this season, but 24-28 FTs (86%).
4 Javes Wiggins F 6'7 220 Sr. 6.3 6.9
Team-high 14 pts, 12 in 2nd half, and 9 rebs vs. BCC...Career-high 17 points at Morgan 3/1...Career-high 15 reb vs. NCAT 2/14...Leads team in rebounding, currently 5th in conference...Was leading rebounder in '02-'03.
42 Tim Parham C 6'9 240 Jr. 6.5 3.4
9 pts, 4 rebs vs. BCC after DNP previous two games for personal reasons...Had 18 points vs. Hampton 2/23...Scored career-high 20 pts 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. 2.6 1.5
DNP vs. BCC...2 points at Coppin St 2/28 (first pts in last 12 games)...Career high 9 pts, 11 rebs at Norfolk St. 1/17...True freshman from Chicago.
5 Lawrence Smith G 5'10 150 Jr. 0.7 0.6
7 min vs. BCC (0 pts, 1 reb)...Career-high 7 pts in career-high 30 min vs. Hampton 2/23...Defensive specialist, serves as backup point guard.
10 Marcus Gutierrez G 6'4 185 So. 1.1 1.3
5 min at Coppin St 2/28 (0 pts) after DNP previous 12 games....Career-high 6 pts (3-5 FGs) vs. Del St 1/3...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 2/23 after 10 straight DNP's...Played in 10 of 28 games...All 5 pts this season from foul line...Hard-nosed, athletic player.
14 Jermaul Akanbi G 6'2 165 So. 0.5 0.2
Played season-high 8 min (0 pts) at Coppin St 2/28...Has played in 6 of 28 games this season...Scored only FG vs. Coppin State 1/24 (2 pts, 1 asst).
25 Brandon Wilson G 6'4 190 R-Fr. 1.7 1.1
DNP vs. BCC....Matched career-high with 6 points at Coppin St 2/28 (also 6 points at Ill. 12/11)...Freshman season, originally from Long Island, NY.
33 Didier Socka F 6'7 225 Sr. 3.5 3.1
Only 7 pts in last 4 games combined....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. 0.6 1.0
DNP vs. BCC...Career-high 14 min at Coppin St. 2/28, his first action in 14 games (hadn't played since 1/17), scored first career points (4 pts).
44 Jareem Dowling F 6'6 235 Jr. 3.8 2.6
DNP (knee) vs. BCC...0 pts (0-7 FGs) in last two games combined...Career-high 12 pts at Hampton 1/19 and vs. Morgan St. 1/27...Shooting 32-124 FGs (26%) this season (10-53 3's-19%)...Transfer from Cecil C.C. this season.
55 Jason McKinnon C 6'11 270 Jr. 2.3 2.9
Played 17 min at Coppin St. 2/28, had 2 pts, 4 rebs (first pts 18 games)...Started 9 of 28 games...Only double-double of season (11 pts, 11 rebs) at RMU 12/21.
UMES Hawks (8-20, 6-12)
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
2/28 at Coppin State* L 38-61
3/1 at Morgan State* L 89-93
3/9 Bethune-Cookman (1st Rd.) W 51-50
Upcoming schedule:
Date Game Time
3/10 S. Carolina St. (Quarters) 6:00
3/12 TBA (Semis) 8:30
3/13 TBA (Finals) 12:00
*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 8-20 season this year, Trotter has a 36-77 overall record (.319 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.
MEAC 2003-04 Final Standings
Rk School Record
1. S Carolina St. 14-4
2. Coppin State 14-4
3.Delaware St. 11-7
4. Hampton 11-7
5. Florida A&M 10-8
6. Norfolk State 10-8
7. Morgan State 9-9
8.Bethune-Cook. 7-11
9. MD East. Shore 6-12
10. Howard 4-14
11. N Carolina A&T 3-15
All-MEAC First Team
G Terrence Woods, FAMU
G Chakowby Hicks, Norfolk St.
F Devin Green, Hampton
F Jimmy Boykin, Coppin State
F Thurman Zimmerman, SC St.
Second Team
G Tee Trotter, Md Eastern Shore
G Jeff Granger, Hampton
F Brian Mason, SC St.
F Terrence Hunter, Delaware St.
C James Wilkinson, Howard
Player of the Year:
Thurman Zimmerman, SC St.
-Selected in a vote by MEAC coaches and Sports Information Directors
