Feb. 12, 2004
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The Men's Game
The UMES men's basketball team, winners of four of its last six games, opens a five-game home stand Thursday with a non-conference contest against the Savannah State Tigers at the Hytche Center. The Hawks (5-15, 4-8 MEAC) are coming off a thrilling 56-55 victory at Howard Monday.
The Tigers come in with a 1-22 record, including 17 straight losses. The team, which has not played for 11 days following a loss at Florida State on Super Sunday, fell to UMES in a 62-61 heartbreaker two weeks ago in Savannah.
Scouting the Tigers
The Savannah State Tigers enter Thursday's game at 1-22 overall. The team has lost 17 straight contests after its lone victory of the season, December 8th at home against Eastern Kentucky, 63-62.
UMES beat Savannah State 62-61 Jan. 29th (two weeks ago) on the road, erasing a 14-point second half deficit in the process. Antoine Joiner hit the game-winning free-throws with 9.5 seconds left, then Josh Barker missed a shot at the buzzer as time expired for the Tigers.
The Tigers are one of Division I's four remaining independents, meaning the school is not affiliated with a conference. The team has played only six homes games all season, including playing 11 of its last 12 contests away from Tiger Arena. This season the Tigers are only 1-5 at home (and 0-17 away from it).
Savannah State is led in scoring by sophomore guard Jamal Daniels, who is head coach Edward Daniels' son. Jamal averages 12.3 ppg and 5.1 rpg. Junior guard Donald Carson averages 8.3 ppg and 4.3 rebounds per contest.
News and Notes
For the second straight week, Tee Trotter was named MEAC Player of the Week by the conference (week ending 2/10). In two games, he averaged 21.5 ppg in leading the Hawks to a perfect 2-0 record. Trotter is now averaging 17.8 ppg this season, and is leading all conference players with 19.8 ppg in MEAC contests...After going eight straight games without scoring more than 55 points in a contest, UMES has now scored over 62 points in six of its eight games since. The Hawks are averaging 66 ppg during that stretch, after averaging 52 ppg on the season up to that point...After 20 games this season UMES has matched its win total from all of '02-'03 (5-15, 5-23)...The Hawks have struggled from the field so far this season, coming into play Thursday shooting only 37% 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.
Tee to the Rescue
Tee Trotter scored a game-high 26 points, including the game-winning basket with five seconds remaining to lift UMES to a 56-55 win over Howard University in a MEAC men's game at Burr Gymnasium Monday night.
After Mac Wilkinson scored on a tip-in with 15 seconds remaining to give Howard (5-15 overall, 3-8 in the MEAC) a 55-54 lead, Trotter brought the right side of the court, made a crossover to the middle of the lane and flipped the ball over the outstretched hands of two Bison players. Louis Ford took the inbounds pass and pushed the ball up the floor, but had the ball blocked away by Javes Wiggins to secure the Hawks victory as time expired.
The Bison led 30-26 at intermission and opened their biggest lead of the game at 35-28 before the Hawks (5-15 overall, 4-8 in the MEAC) put together a 20-4 run to take a 46-39 advantage. But Seye Aluko (18 points, 6 rebounds) caught fire in the final minutes, scoring 8 of the Bison's 10 points before Wilkinson's basket gave Howard the brief lead.
The Hawks got strong play from their frontline, as Tim Parham recorded nine points, all in the second half, Javes Wiggins grabbed nine boards, and Didier Socka had five rebounds and four points.
UMES ROSTER AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
1 Tee Trotter G 5'11 180 Sr. 17.8 2.2
During Hawks six-game turnaround, averaging 25.7 ppg (154 pts) and twice has been named MEAC Player of the Week...Hit GW shot with 5 seconds left to beat Howard, part of 26-pt. performance...Only Hawk to start every game...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. 11.3 3.0
Averaging 14 ppg during Hawks six-game turnaround (84 pts)...scored only 5 pts at Howard (2-8 FGs)...Scored season-high 23 pts (6-11 FGs), 18 coming in the second half at Sav. St 1/29...Team's second-leading scorer this season...Hawks' second-leading scorer in '02-'03...Pure shooter with knack for scoring.
44 Jareem Dowling F 6'6 235 Jr. 4.2 2.7
1 pt and 4 rebs in 24 min at Howard...Tied career-high with 12 pts (5-9 FGs) in 35 min vs. Morgan St. 1/27...Shooting 28-95 FGs (30%) this season (8-40 3's)...Transfer from Cecil C.C. averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds in '02-'03.
4 Javes Wiggins F 6'7 220 Sr. 4.9 6.0
Had 3 pts and 9 rebs in 20 min at Howard...Season-high 14 pts, also 11 rebs at Del. St. 2/7...Leads team in rebounding...Was team's leading rebounder in '02-'03, also third-leading returning scorer.
42 Tim Parham C 6'9 240 Jr. 5.6 3.3
9 pts (all in 2nd half) at Howard after 0 pts the previous two games combined...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. 3.5 2.0
Played combined 11 min at Del. St/Howard after a 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. 0.7 0.4
Season-high-matching 4 pts in 16 min at Howard (also 4 pts 1/27 vs. Morgan St.)...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 seven 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. 0.6 0.1
Has seen limited action off the bench in nine of the team's 20 games...All 5 pts this season from foul line...Hard-nosed player with athletic ability.
14 Jermaul Akanbi G 6'2 165 So. 0.8 0.3
Has played in 4 games this season...Scored first FG of the season vs. Coppin State 1/24 (2 pts, 1 asst)...still growing into his ability as a D-I player.
21 Antoine Joiner F 6'5 180 Jr. 3.6 2.8
4 pts and 7 rebs in 21 min at Howard...Hit GW FTs w/ 9 sec. left at Sav. St. 1/29...Season-high 13 pts v. Del St 1/3...Shooting 20-65 FGs (31%) this season.
25 Brandon Wilson G 6'4 190 R-Fr. 1.2 0.8
DNP at Howard...Scored 2 points at Sav St 1/29 (only pts since 1/6 at MD)...Scored career-high 6 points at Ill...Red-shirt freshman from Long Island, NY.
33 Didier Socka F 6'7 225 Sr. 3.4 3.1
4 pts and 5 rebs in 26 min at Howard...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
Has not played since Norfolk St. game 1/17 (8 straight DNP)...Played career-high 12 min at S. Car St. 1/12 (0 pts, 3 rebs, 2 blks).
55 Jason McKinnon C 6'11 270 Jr. 2.6 3.1
0 pts combined in the last 12 games (includes 4 starts, 6 DNP)...Has started 9 of 20 games...Had only double-double of season (11 pts, 11 rebs) at RMU 12/21.
UMES Hawks (5-15, 4-8)
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
Upcoming schedule:
Date Game Time
2/12 Savannah State 7:30
2/14 N.C. A&T* 4:00
2/16 S. Carolina St.* 7:30
2/21 Norfolk State* 4:00
2/23 Hampton* 7:30
2/28 at Coppin State* 7:30
3/1 at Morgan State* 7:30
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 5-15 start this season, Trotter has a 33-72 overall record (.314 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 play their 8th game in 17 days Thursday as they begin a five-game home stand with a non-conference contest against the Savannah State Lady Tigers. The game tips off at 5:30 from Burr Gymnasium.
The Lady Hawks, who beat Savannah St. two weeks ago 65-57, are coming off an 88-74 loss at Howard Monday night. The Lady Tigers, playing for the first time in 11 days, upset MEAC-leading Delaware State Monday 62-59 in Savannah. The team has also defeated MEAC-members Bethune-Cookman and Morgan State this season.
News and Notes
After a quiet start to her career at UMES, freshman LaToya Green has broken out in a big way the last three games. In her first 11 games played as a Hawk, Green scored a total of 15 points. In her last three however, Latoya has scored a total of 44 points (14.7 ppg), including a career-high 20 at Del. St. 2/7...In spite of the Lady Hawks' poor conference record, nine of the team's 10 MEAC losses have come by 9 points or fewer. The team has led in the second half in 8 of those 10 losses...After a slow start to the season, UMES guard Laconia Hatcher has caught fire. Hatcher was named MEAC Player of the Week Feb. 3rd, after averaging 15.2 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per contest. The junior college-transfer, who failed to score double-figures in any of the first five games this season, has scored in double-figures in 13 of the 15 games since, and is now the second-leading scorer at 12.3 ppg....Tiffany Winkfield has now recorded a double-double in 12 of the Lady Hawks' 20 games this season. The senior is leading the team with both 13.8 ppg and 10.7 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 709-702 in the second half this season.
Bison Blues
Andrea Jones recorded the first double-double of her career with 16 points and 16 rebounds to lead four players in double figures as Howard University powered its way to an 88-74 win over the Lady Hawks at Burr Gymnasium Monday night.
The Lady Bison scored 44 points in each half, while Jones, a 6'3 junior, made 5 of her 6 shots from the field and helped the taller Lady Bison front line of 6'2 Shauna Ruglass (10 points, 3 rebounds), 6'5 Tracie Suggs (7 points, 6 rebounds) and 6'2 Sherice Gamble (6 points) dominate the Lady Hawks, 62-37 on the boards.
The Howard backcourt of junior Daisha Hicks (14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists) and freshman Christina Aden (13 points) provided perimeter play to balance the Howard attack. The Lady Bison (7-13 overall, 7-4 the MEAC) took a 44-28 lead at the half and were never really seriously challenged in the second half.
UMES (6-14 overall, 2-10 MEAC) was paced by their backcourt of Laconia Hatcher (18 points, 5 rebounds) and LaToya Green (14 points), but it took 34 shots between them to account for their production.
UMES Hawks (6-14, 2-10)
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
Upcoming schedule:
Date Game Time
2/12 Savannah State 5:30
2/14 N.C. A&T* 2:00
2/16 S. Carolina St.* 5:30
2/21 Norfolk State* 2:00
2/23 Hampton* 5:30
2/28 at Coppin State* 5:30
3/1 at Morgan State* 5:30
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 35-71 overall record (.332 win pct.) to date, after starting 6-14 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
