Feb. 25, 2005
Click here to listen to the women's game beginning at 5:30 pm Saturday
Click here to listen to the men's game beginning at approximately 7:30 pm Saturday
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The Women's Game
The fifth-place UMES Lady Hawks begin their final weekend of the regular season with a critical match-up against the first-place Coppin State Lady Eagles Saturday in Baltimore. The Lady Hawks come in at 11-14 (9-7 MEAC) following a 3-1 home stand, concluded by a 62-57 upset of previously first-place Hampton Monday. UMES has won nine of its last 15 following a 2-8 start to the season.
The Lady Eagles, who come in with a half-game lead over Hampton for first place in the conference, have won three straight and nine of 11 overall. Coppin, led by MEAC player of the year candidate Sherrie Tucker, beat UMES 77-51 in Princess Anne on January 26th.
News and Notes
The Lady Hawks are 9-7 in conference with 2 games remaining. The team's last winning MEAC season was in 1997-'98 (12-6)...PG Erica Bennett returned last weekend after missing 11 of UMES' previous 15 games for various reasons. Without her, the Lady Hawks averaged 25 TO's/game (11 games, 274 total), and with her 21 TO's/gm (14 games, 299 total)...G Ashley Chase is averaging 11.0 ppg (100) but 6.7 TO's/gm (60) the past 9 games. She is shooting only 5-24 FG's (21%) the past 2 games...Kristi Veltkamp is averaging 10.7 ppg (182 pts) the past 17 games after averaging 4.3 ppg her first eight games...Walk-on Toni Kennedy is leading the Lady Hawks in scoring (10.7 ppg) but has struggled from the field the past 13 games, shooting 8-12 FG's at N.C. A&T 1/29, but a combined 33-124 FG's (27%) the other 12...Octavia Thompson, the Lady Hawks leading returning scorer from `03-'04, left the team due to personal reasons Dec. 6th. The senior was averaging 8.3 ppg in four games played this season.
Cheatham, and How!
The Lady Hawks defeated the two-time defending conference champion Hampton Lady Pirates, 62-57 on senior night Monday at the Hytche Center. Paced by a career-high 24 points from sophomore Qiana Cheatham, UMES recorded its first victory over Hampton since January of 2000.
The teams traded leads for most of the first half, with neither able to gain more than a four-point advantage in the first 20 minutes. Senior Erica Bennett hit a running three-point bank shot as time expired to give UMES (11-14, 9-7 MEAC) a 30-27 halftime advantage.
After Hampton fell behind by five early in the second half, the Pirates rattled off an 8-0 run behind three baskets from center Tiffany Williams, and grabbed their biggest lead of the game at 39-36 with 13:17 left. UMES responded with a critical 8-0 run of their own, on a three from Ashley Chase and a three and a jumper from Cheatham to reclaim the lead 44-39, a lead they would hold the rest of the way.
The Pirates got back within one point on three occasions, the last coming at 55-54 with 3:30 left on a Rachel Butler three-ball. Cheatham then delivered the biggest shot of the game, a left-wing three pointer with two minutes remaining that put the Lady Hawks up 58-54. Bennett helped seal the game by going 4-5 from the foul line in the game's final minute.
UMES Lady Hawks (11-14, 9-7 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
2/19 Norfolk State* L 57-59
2/21 Hampton* W 62-57
Upcoming Games:
Date Game Time
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 begins its final weekend of the regular season with a match-up against the first-place Coppin State Eagles Saturday in Baltimore. The Hawks (2-23, 1-15 MEAC) dropped all four games in their final home stand of the season, including a 15-point senior night loss to second-place Hampton Monday.
The Eagles (12-13, 12-4 MEAC), who started the season 2-10, have won 10 of their last 13 games (all in conference) and currently hold a half-game lead in the MEAC over Hampton and Del State. Coppin beat the Hawks 78-55 Jan. 26th led by Darryl Proctor's 24 points.
Scouting the Eagles
The Coppin State Eagles (12-13, 12-4 MEAC) come into Saturday's contest winners of 10 of their last 13 games, all in MEAC play, including a split in Florida last weekend. The team, which lost in the MEAC championship game last season, now sits in first place in the conference by a half game over Hampton and Delaware State.
The Eagles went 0-9 in non-conference games, but that included losses at now #5 Kentucky, #13 Utah, #18 Pittsburgh, and #22 Oklahoma. Eight of Coppin's nine non-conference losses came to teams currently in the top 70 in RPI, with seven of the nine coming to teams in the top 50 (Coppin is #107 in RPI this week).
The Eagles, coached by MEAC legend Fang Mitchell, now in his 18th season, are led by forwards Nicholas King and Darryl Proctor. King, a second-team preseason all-MEAC pick, leads Coppin in scoring at 14.4 ppg, while the freshman Proctor is second in scoring (13.1 ppg) and first in rebounding (6.8 rpg).
The Eagles beat UMES 78-55 on January 26th, as Proctor scored 24 points (12-15 FG's) and grabbed nine boards.
News and Notes
The Hawks activated two practice players last Saturday- juniors Terrell Harris and Jamar Taylor- and each played in the past two games. Neither had previously dressed for a D-I game...UMES is averaging 56 ppg through 25 games (11th in MEAC). UMES is shooting 38% from the field, 29% from three-point range and 61% from the foul line...UMES is allowing 78 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 1-11 at home)...The Hawks 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 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.
Pirates Plunder
The Hawks lost their final home game of the season, falling on senior night to the Hampton Pirates, 70-55. The Pirates held UMES to only three first-half field goals and led by 19 at the break, securing the team's 10th win in the last 12 games.
Hampton (13-11, 11-5 MEAC) jumped out to a 13-5 lead to open game, but UMES (2-23, 1-15) was able to get back within 14-11, as the Hawks held the Pirates without a field goal for almost four minutes. Hampton dominated the rest of the half, finishing the final nine minutes on a decisive 22-6 run to take a 36-17 halftime lead. The Hawks shot just 3-21 (14%) from the field in the first half, and committed 13 turnovers.
While the Hawks offense improved in the second half (14-29 FG's), Hampton grew the lead to as large as 22, 56-34 with 8:40 left. UMES was able to creep back within 13 on several occasions down the stretch, but ended up falling by 15.
Corey Brown had a game high 19 points (13 in the second half) to lead UMES, while Tim Parham added a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds. Devin Green's 17 points led Hampton, while Bruce Brown and Jared Woodley had 11 and 10, respectively.
UMES HAWKS AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
3 Aly Samabaly G 6'3 200 Jr. 3.6 3.2
Had 7 pts and 5 rebs, but 8 TO's vs. Hamp...Averaging 9.0 ppg the past 5 games (45)...Has started 18 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 2.1
Had 19 pts (13 in 2nd half) vs. Hamp...Averaging 18.4 ppg (92) the past 5 games...Leads team in scoring, assists and FT shooting (78%)...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.
32 Ryan Leak G 6'4 185 Fr. 6.1 1.1
4 total pts, 29 total min past 3 gms (1 DNP) after averaging 10.1 ppg his previous seven games (71 pts)...Had started 14 of 18 games before last 3 contests...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.
33 Jareem Dowling F 6'6 235 Sr. 7.8 5.3
Had 8 pts and 5 rebs vs. Hamp...Struggling past 6 weeks, shooting 26-106 FG's past 14 gms (25%), and 18-79 FG's past 10 (23%, season 29%)...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
Had 11 pts, 11 rebs in 40 min vs. Hamp...Has 11 double-doubles in last 16 games (0 in prior 34 career games)...Averaging 14.0 ppg (238) and 10.3 rpg (175) the past 17 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
3 straight DNP's...Last 8 games: 4 DNP, 5 total pts, 31 total minutes...Freshman from Silver Spring, Md., first recruit signed by Larry Lessett.
20 Terrell Harris G 6'1 175 Jr. 6.5 1.5
4 pts vs. Hamp...Walk-on scored 9 pts in 1st game of season vs. NSU 2/19...Played baseball for UMES in 2004, pitched 20 gms (0-1, 9.89 ERA).
21 Shondale Robinson F 6'5 208 Jr. 1.9 2.1
2 pts in first-car. start vs. Hamp...Car.-high 8 pts vs. Coppin 1/26...Already has scored 47 points this season (4 all last season)...Nicknamed "Texas"...Returnee from `03-'04, when he walked onto team in late December.
22 Jamar Taylor F 6'4 260 Jr. 1.5 3.0
0 pts, 1 reb vs. Hamp...Walk-on had 3 pts, 5 rebs in 1st game vs. NSU 2/19.
23 Anthony Davis F 6'3 190 So. 2.6 1.2
Did not dress vs. Hamp (back injury)...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 1.0
DNP vs. Hamp (coach's decision)...Struggled his past 13 gms; total 5 pts (0.4 ppg) and 10 rebs (0.8 rpg)...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 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 (2-21, 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
2/19 Norfolk State* L 52-68
2/21 Hampton* L 55-70
Upcoming Games
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.
