GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | VIDEO (ESPN 3)
BALTIMORE-- After over a week off from action, the UMBC men's basketball team returns to the hardwood to take on NJIT this weekend. The Retrievers were last in acting on January 16-17 when they split with Hartford at the UMBC Event Center. Hartford took game one of the series before a strong defensive effort in game two lifted UMBC to a split and a 10-3, 6-2 AE record on the year.
NJIT Series Info:
What: UMBC Retrievers (10-3, 6-2 AE) at NJIT Highlanders (5-7, 4-6 AE)
Where: NJIT Wellness and Events Center - Newark, N.J.
When: Sunday-Monday, January 31-February 1 - Both games beginning at 2 p.m.
How to Watch: Live stream on ESPN 3, live stats at NJITHighlanders.com
Social Media: @UMBC_MBB, #RetrieverNation, #AEHoops
Scouting the Retrievers:
-The Retrievers come into the weekend at 10-3 overall and are first in the league at 6-2. UMBC has not played since January 17 when they defeated Hartford 57-49 in Baltimore. Three Retrievers hit double figures led by R.J. Eytle-Rock (London, England) with 14 points as UMBC held the Hawks to just 32 percent shooting from the floor. The Retrievers have fared well on the road, going 6-1 compared to 4-2 at home.
-Senior Brandon Horvath (West River, Md./Southern) leads the Retriever offense who is averaging just a shade under 70 ppg (69.7) at 14.9 ppg and is also the team leader with 8.3 rpg. Eytle-Rock is the only other Retriever in double figures at 12.9 ppg and has dished out a team-best 31 assists. Junior Keondre Kennedy (Atlanta, Ga.) is having a breakout season averaging 9.1 ppg and 5.0 rpg coming off the bench.
Scouting the Highlanders:
-America East newcomer NJIT comes into the series at 5-7, 4-6 AE and are coming off a split against Stony Brook last weekend. The Highlanders took game one of the series before falling in the finale last Sunday. The Highlanders are 2-2 in Newark compared to 3-5 away from home.
-NJIT has three players averaging double figures led by preseason all-conference honoree Zach Cooks at 14.1 ppg. He is shooting 35 percent from the floor and 31 percent from three averaging 38 minutes per game. Dylan O'Hearn and San Antonio Brinson are also in double figures at 11.7 ppg and 10.9 ppg respectively.
All-Time Series:
-The two have met just twice before this weekend with the Highlanders taking both meetings. It will be the first time the two will meet since the 2015-16 season where NJIT won a close 86-83 contest in Newark.
Odom Climbing the Ranks:
-Head coach Ryan Odom is back for his fifth season at the helm of the Retrievers. Odom led the Dawgs to their third-straight America East Semifinal appearance, finishing fourth in the league at 8-8. He will be looking for his fourth 20-win season in five years and is the third-winningest coach in program history with 93 wins.
-He is now behind Tom Sullivan in second (106 wins) and Billy Jones (145 wins) in first. Sullivan hit his mark in nine seasons and Jones was on the sidelines for 12 years.
Horvath Chasing 1K:
-Senior Brandon Horvath played in his 100th career contest against Coppin State on December 13. He is also fast approaching 1,000 career points, just 83 points away from reaching the milestone, and will be the 24th Retriever all-time to hit the mark.
-Horvath is also currently in the top 20 in career rebounds (516) and is approaching the top ten in career games played.
Up Next:
-The Retrievers will remain on the road and take on Stony Brook on Long Island next Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 6-7.
