Feb. 18, 2005
Click here to listen to the women's game beginning at 2:00 pm Saturday
Click here to listen to the men's game beginning at approximately 4:00 pm Saturday
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 fourth-place UMES Lady Hawks continue a crucial four-game home stand with a match-up against the Norfolk State Lady Spartans Saturday at the Hytche Center. The Lady Hawks, winners of two straight, come in at 10-13 (8-6 MEAC) following a 54-49 win over B-CC Monday. UMES has won eight of its last 13 following a 2-8 start to the season.
The Lady Spartans, a streaky team this season, have lost three of their last four games following wins in six of seven previously. NSU started the season 0-10. The team, led by second-team preseason conference selection Yomika Corbitt, lost home games to S.C. St. and N.C. A&T last week. Norfolk beat UMES 63-46 January 19th.
News and Notes
PG Ashley Chase is averaging 12.0 ppg (84) but 7.0 TO's/gm (49) over the past 7 games...PG Erica Bennett has missed 11 of the Lady Hawks' last 15 games (12/20-illness, 1/10-suspension, 1/17,19,26,29,31-ankle, 2/5,7,12,14-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 (12 games, 258 total)...Freshman Kristi Veltkamp has scored in double-figures in 11 of her past 15 games (11.1 ppg, 167 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 11 games she has struggled from the field though, shooting 8-12 FG's at N.C. A&T 1/29, but a combined 29-113 FG's (26%) the other 10 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.
Winning The Close Ones
The Lady Hawks fought through another tight contest to pull out a 54-49 victory over Bethune-Cookman College Monday at the Hytche Center to grab sole possession of fourth place in the MEAC with four games remaining in the regular season. Led by Toni Kennedy's four three-pointers and game-high 14 points, the Lady Hawks (10-13, 8-6 MEAC) won their third straight home game. Tenth-place Bethune fell to 4-15 (3-10 MEAC) on the season.
The Lady Hawks led by as many as seven in the first half thanks to eight early points from Qiana Cheatham, who made only her second start of the season. The Lady Wildcats cut the deficit to 26-24 at halftime. UMES quickly took a nine-point advantage with a 12-5 run to start the second half, capped by two straight three-pointers from Kennedy.
Bethune's defense picked up from there, and the Lady Cats went on a 15-7 run over the next 12 minutes to pull within 45-44 with 2:09 left. A Jamila Griffith lay-up and an Ashley Chase three-pointer put the Lady Hawks up 50-44 with just under a minute remaining, but Kyla Morton scored five straight for Bethune to make it 50-49 with 30 seconds left. UMES got two free throws from Griffith and Kennedy in the final seconds to put the game away.
UMES Lady Hawks (10-13, 8-6 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
Upcoming Games:
Date Game Time
2/19 Norfolk State* 2:00 pm
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 continues a four-game home stand with a match-up against the fourth-place Norfolk State Spartans Saturday at the Hytche Center. The Hawks (2-21, 1-13 MEAC) have dropped the first two games of the stand, falling to FAMU and Bethune-Cookman.
The Spartans (11-11, 9-5 MEAC), who started the conference season 6-1, have won three of their last four games including a five-point home win over N.C A&T Monday. Led by senior guard Chakowby Hicks, NSU is currently tied with Morgan State for 4th place in the MEAC. The team beat the Hawks 74-56 Jan. 19th in Norfolk.
Scouting the Spartans
The Norfolk State Spartans (11-11, 9-5 MEAC), come into Saturday's contest winners of three of their last four games, including a five-point home win over N.C A&T Monday. The team began the season 6-1 in the MEAC and stood in first place Jan. 22nd, but then lost three straight games, and are now tied for 4th place with Morgan State.
The Spartans, led by third-year head coach Dwight Freeman, are paced by senior Senior Chakowby Hicks, a preseason MEAC first-team selection. Hicks leads the Spartans in scoring (14.8 ppg, 5th in MEAC), is third in rebounding (6.0 rpg, 11th in MEAC) and first in assists (3.9 apg, 2nd in MEAC) and steals (3.4 spg, 1st in MEAC). Big men Calvin Brown (10.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and Karandick Ogunride (9.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg) are second and third respectively in scoring.
The Spartans beat UMES 74-56 in Norfolk on January 19th, as Brown led four NSU players in double-figures with 16 points.
News and Notes
The Hawks activated two practice players for Saturday's game: junior guard Terrell Harris and junior forward Jamar Taylor. Neither has previously dressed for a D-I game...UMES is averaging 56 ppg through 23 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 1-9 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.
Running on Empty
For the second time this season the Hawks led Bethune-Cookman at halftime, but again fell to the Wildcats, this time 68-58 Monday at the Hytche Center. UMES, who played only seven players because of an illness going around the team, shot 28% in the second half and were outscored 36-25.
UMES (2-21, 1-13 MEAC) held the lead for the majority of the first half, sprinting out to an 8-0 lead, before Bethune (11-12, 7-6 MEAC) tied the game at 16-16. The Hawks responded with a 7-0 spurt to take a 23-16 advantage with seven minutes left in the half, and held on for a 33-32 halftime lead.
Bethune took command at the outset of the second half as fatigue set in for the Hawks. The Wildcats scored 29 of the first 39 points after the intermission, with 16 of those coming from big men Nicholas Berry and Cleveland Williams, and the Bethune advantage ballooned to 19 points, 61-42 with 7:26 left. UMES got the lead down to eight in the final minute of play on an Aly Samabaly three, but it was not enough for the Hawks.
Tim Parham narrowly missed 10th double-double of the season, finishing with 16 points to go along with nine reboundsm while Samabaly had a career-high 14 points. Williams led the Wildcats with 15.
UMES HAWKS AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
3 Aly Samabaly G 6'3 200 Jr. 3.1 3.0
Career-high 14 pts (4-8 FG's) in 39 min vs. B-CC...Has started 16 straight games at PG...Shooting 22-84 FG's this season (26%), and 15-62 3's (24%)...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. 11.4 2.0
Had 14 pts (4-15 FG's) vs. B-CC...Averaging 18.3 ppg (55) the past 3 games...Career-high 21 pts at Howard 2/7...2nd of team in scoring, 1st in FT shooting (77%)...Averaging 4.6 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. 6.5 1.2
DNP (illness) vs. B-CC...Averaging 10.2 ppg his past seven games (71 pts)...Career-high 20 pts (11-12 FT's) vs. SC St. 1/31...Has started 14 of past 19 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. 8.0 5.3
Had 8 pts, 10 rebs vs. B-CC...Struggling past 5 weeks, shooting 23-89 FG's past 12 gms (26%), and 15-62 FG's past 9 (24%, season 30%)...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. 11.8 8.3
Had 16 pts, 9 rebs vs. B-CC...Has 10 double-doubles in last 14 games (0 in prior 34 career games)...Averaging 14.7 ppg (220) and 10.2 rpg (153) the past 15 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 14 gms, car-high 11 pts at NSU 1/19, but 18 total pts the other 14...Freshman from Silver Spring, Md., first recruit signed by Larry Lessett.
21 Shondale Robinson F 6'5 208 Jr. 1.9 2.1
2 pts, 19 min vs. B-CC...Career-high 8 pts vs. Coppin 1/26...Already has scored 44 points this season (4 all last season)...Nicknamed "Texas"...Returnee from `03-'04, when he walked onto team in late December.
23 Anthony Davis F 6'3 190 So. 2.7 1.3
4 pts in 11 min vs. B-CC...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 1.1
Struggled past 12 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 to compete...Played 7 games this season, was leading Hawks in scoring...Career-high 20 pts vs. Howard 12/6.
45 x-Jason McKinnon C 6'11 270 Sr. 7.3 4.9
No longer with the team...Played in 15 games this season, started 14...Career-highs 13 pts, 11 rebs vs. UMBC 12/1 (2nd career double-double)...Returnee from `03-'04, started 9 games.
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
Upcoming Games
2/19 Norfolk State* 4:00 pm
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.
