UMBC at Hartford Notes, Feb. 17 2016
After dropping a tough 96-92 foul-plagued decision at UMass Lowell, the UMBC Retrievers head back up north to take on the Hartford Hawks on Wednesday, Feb. 17. A 7:00 p.m. tip-off time is slated for Chase Family Arena and the contest will be broadcast on www.americaeast.tv.
Live stats will be available via www.umbcretrievers.com and fans can also follow via the men's basketball program's Twitter feed (UMBC_MBB). Access of live stats and video is also available via UMBC Front Row, UMBC Athletics' mobile website.
RETRIEVERS' UPDATE: On Sunday, UMBC topped the 90-point plateau for the second time this season, but, for the second time, the Retrievers came up on the short end as UMass Lowell outlasted their guests, 96-92. The Retrievers were whistled for 20 second-half fouls as UML hit 22-of-30 from the line the final 15 minutes to key their victory. Junior wing Will Darley scored a career-high 31 points, produced the Retrievers' fifth 30-point effort of the campaign.
Sophomore guard Jairus Lyles (24.0 ppg) has scored 24 or more points in all but four of his 16 outings and the Retrievers are averaging 77.6 points per game during his tenure.
In his return after missing the 2014-15 season due to injury, red-shirt sophomore guard Rodney Elliott is averaging 13.1 points. He scored 20 points in the loss at UML on Sunday.
Darley, who also tied his career-best with five (5-of-8) treys at UML, is averaging 11.1 points per contest. Freshman center Nolan Gerrity has picked up his play of late, averaging 8.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in the last hree games. He has hit 10-of-12 field goal attempts in that span.
HAWK UPDATE: Hartford (7-20, 2-10 AE) has dropped seven straight since the victory over UMBC on January 21 and the Hawks have yet to win at home in league play in 2016.
Junior guard Pancake Thomas was brilliant in defeat at Vermont on Sunday, netting 35 points (8/13 from long distance) in a 92-81 loss at Vermont. The Hawks led the game at the midpoint of the second half, but UVM outscored the Hawks, 46-24, in the paint to spark their home court victory.
Thomas had produced a monster year in his first campaign at UH. He is one of the America East's best in scoring (18.7), rebounding (6.6), three-point field goals made (57) and percentage (41.6%) and free throws made (116) and percentage (81.7%). UH hits 9.3 treys per game, but has a -12.1 rebound margin.
EARLIER MATCH-UP AND THE SERIES: Visiting Hartford never trailed and scored a season-high 98 points in a 98-87 victory over UMBC at the RAC Arena on January 21. Lyles led five Retrievers in double figures with 24 points. But Hartford reserve guard Jalen Ross topped all scorers with 27 points, hitting 13-of-14 attempts from the charity stripe. Hartford shot over 64 percent from the field in the second half, buried 8-of-13 shots behind the arc and 15-of-18 from the free throw line. They outscored UMBC, 59-55, in the final 20 minutes.
The Hawks have won four straight in the series to take a 15-12 overall advantage. Hartford has also captured four in a row at Chase Family Arena and own a 9-3 advantage overall in West Hartford. UMBC did win three straight on the Hawks' home floor from 2009-2011.
WHO'S UP NEXT: UMBC returns home for its final two games of the regular season, starting with a Feb. 20 contest versus Vermont. The rare evening Saturday start tips at 7:05 p.m.
