America East Basketball News & Notes: UMBC On a Roll

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The final week of non-conference basketball is on the way. By the time New Year’s Eve arrives the league schedule will get underway. There is a new team that is making noise in the conference. The University of Maryland-Baltimore County has won six in a row. The depth of this league has shown itself during the early season. Last week America East teams won five more games adding to an impressive non-league record that has gotten noticed across college basketball. The hard part is on the way, as teams will start to play each other, We will find out who survives and who gets left behind. In the meantime, let’s take a look at some of last week’s news

UMBC’s (8-4) last loss took place back on November 26 when they were beaten on the road by Georgetown of the Big East 79-70. The 9-point loss was a pretty good showing on the road. Since that night, the Retrievers have won three games each on the road and at home, scoring 70 or more points in all six games. The only true blowout took place in the first game of the streak, a 109-82 win over Coppin State. The three-point shot has been a big part of their offense this season. They are first in 3-point FG made having hit 131 in 13 games for an average of 10 a game. They are second in 3-point FG percentage at .375% (131-of-349). Matteo Picarell leads in both 3-point FG percentage at .487% (38-of-70) and in 3-point FG made with 38 from deep. At the free throw line, Jacob Boonyasith leads in free throw shooting at 86% (34-of-38). When this team shoots the ball well, they are awfully hard to defend and beat.

Bryant College is still ranked in the Mid-Major Top-25 poll at #17. However, their last time out may put an end to their time in that poll. That’s because on Saturday in Springfield, MA. the Bulldogs (8-4) lost by 20 points to Liberty 82-62. As has been the case all season, the production came from the starters (48 points) with little help coming from the bench (seven points). Guard Earl Timberlake scored in double figures for the tenth time this season. Antawn Walker finished in double-figures for the 10th straight game and 11th time overall. Sherif Gross-Bullock has scored in double-figures in all 12 games this year, and in 34 for his career. For Bryant, production from their bench needs to be found before America East conference play begins.

The University of New Hampshire Wildcats (4-6) have struggled in the non-conference. Their offense is scoring at a 68-point clip, which is third from the bottom. They are dead last in field goal percentage at 39% (242-for-626). On defense, they are dead last in blocked shots (19 in 10 games) and next to last in steals (54 in 10 games), 5.4 per contest. On the bright side, the Wildcats are the best in opponent 3-point FG percentage at 28% (60-for-213 ). Clarence Daniels leads the league in rebounding averaging 11.9 a game. He is the only player in double-figures in rebounding. He is also third in scoring at 15.7 a game.

UAlbany (4-9) took one on the chin on Sunday losing to Loyola-Chicago by 12, 68-56. They never had the lead in this one. However, they did get 16 points off the bench from Merrimack College transfer Malik Edmead. The Great Danes are having problems on both sides of the ball. They are next to last in offense at 67 points a game. On defense, they are last in the league allowing 75 points a night. Gerald Drumgoole Jr. is second in 3-point Fg made (35 in 13 games), and fifth in free throw percentage at 83% (40-of-48).

This week’s AE Player of the Week is Kevin Osawe of NJIT. In a victory over Niagara, Osawe recorded a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds. He added a pair of assists to his totals. He was also 6-of-7 from the free throw line in helping the Highlanders record their second win of the season. This is his first weekly award. The AE Rookie of the Week is UMBC guard Dion Brown who in a 2-0 week for his team averaged 16.5 points, three rebounds, and shot 79% (15-for19) from the floor. In the 72-69 win on the road at Loyola, Brown came off the bench and scored a career-high 21 points in 19 minutes on the court. This is Brown’s first weekly award.

Next week we will look ahead to conference play in America East.