UMBC at Maryland | Thursday, December 29, 7:00 PM | Watch | ESPNU | Live Stats | Game Notes 

LAST TIME OUT - DAWGS MAKE IT SIX STRAIGHT
UMBC extended its winning streak to six as the Retrievers surged past William & Mary, 78-62, at "The Peake" on Sunday, December 18. Senior guard Jacob Boonyasith led a balanced attack with 19 points, including 7-of-7 from the charity stripe. Graduate student guard Colton Lawrence scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half, while freshman guard Dion Brown posted double figures for the second consecutive game with a dozen points on 6-of-7 shooting.  UMBC hit 30-of-56 shots from the floor (53.6 percent) and held the Tribe to 41.1 percent shooting. The Retrievers put the game away by knocking down 8-of-10 second half free throws and were 13-of-15 for the game. UMBC committed a season-low seven turnovers and the Tribe only scored four points off UMBC's miscues. Brown has converted 15-of-22 field goal attempts in two games this week, averaging 16.5 points per game in the wins over Loyola-Md. and William & Mary. The Retrievers picked up their first ever win against the Tribe after dropping the first two decisions. The Retrievers finished the game on a 17-6 run to extend their home winning streak to five.
 
ABOUT MARYLAND
The Terps lost three straight contests before defeating Saint Peter's last Thursday. Guard Jahmir Young leads the team in scoring (14.4 ppg.) and is handing out a team-best 3.3 assists. Julian Reese, who's mother Angel Webb Reese is a member of UMBC's Athletic Hall of Fame (women's basketball), leads the team in rebounding (7.2 pg.) and is adding 11.2 ppg.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Maryland has won all 14 games dating back to the 1986-87 campaign. The only single-point deficit was an 89-80 outcome, during the 1993-1994 season. The Terrapins and Retrievers last met during the 2017-2018 season (66-45).
 
BOONYASITH NAMED AE POW
UMBC senior wing Jacob Jacob Boonyasith was named the America East Men's Basketball Player of the Week on December 5th. Boonyasith garnered his first America East honor after averaging 20.5 points in a pair of non-conference victories against Coppin State and Lehigh. Boonyasith shot 54 percent overall and was even better from behind the arc as he drilled 9-of-13 attempts (69 percent). In addition, he averaged 4.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds. Boonyasith scored a career-high 24 points and added a career-best eight assists in the 109-82 victory at "The Peake" last Wednesday. He made his first five treys and scored the final 10 points during a key 13-1 run that extended a modest first-half lead. He followed that up with a team-high 17 points and four rebounds in the 88-62 win against Lehigh on Saturday. Boonyasith scored 12 points in the opening half as the Retrievers led 48-21 at the break. Boonyasith has made 30-of-52 field goals (58 percent) over his last 6 contests and is 15-for-26 (.58 percent) from long-distance. Boonyasith leads the AE in free throw percentage (.895, 28th in NCAA) and is 12th in 3s per game. (1.7).
 
BROWN AS GOOD AS ADVERTISED; NAMED AE ROOKIE OF WEEK
Highly regarded freshman guard Dion Brown has made an instant impact over his first three career contests. The Great Barrington, Massachusetts native grabbed his first America East honor after averaging 16.5 points in a pair of non-conference victories against Loyola (Md.) and William & Mary. Brown shot a sizzling 79 percent from the floor as he drilled a combined 15-of-19 attempts. Brown scored a game-high 21 points in just his second career appearance in UMBC's 72-69 triumph at Loyola (Md.) on December 13th. Brown converted 9-of-12 field goal attempts, including 2-for-3 from behind the arc. He also added four rebounds and a steal. The 21 points were the most by a UMBC freshman since Joe Sherburne produced 25 at Duquesne on 12/8/15. He followed that up with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the  78-62 victory against William & Mary at "The Peake" on December 18th. Brown missed the first 10 games of the season recovering from an injury.
 
BALTIMORE'S FINEST?
UMBC went 3-0 against their Baltimore foes this season, defeating Coppin State, Morgan State and Loyola.
 
PICARELLI COMING INTO HIS OWN   
Junior guard Matteo Picarelli has been one of the biggest surprises for the Retrievers through the first 13 contests as he's been one of the leading scorers on the squad at 11.8 ppg.  The Milan, Italy native went for 19 points in the victory against Lafayette and followed that up with a new career-high 21 points in the triumph over Central Connecticut State.  Picarelli is averaging 23.3  minutes per game this season after playing just 8.6 mpg. in 21-22.  His 2.9 3's per game is 2nd in the AE (37th in NCAA) and he's also 2nd in accuracy (.48.7), which is good for 10th in the country.
 
BOMBS AWAY
The Retrievers swished 17 triples for the 5th time in program history at UNCG (11/22/22).  UMBC attempted 37 treys, just six shy of their all-time single-game mark. The squad then broke the record with 21 bombs in their blowout victory over Coppin State. The Retrievers attempted 40 shots from distance in the contest. UMBC ranks 13th in the country with 10.1 3's made per game.  The Retrievers are 28th in attempts per game at 26.8 and are 52nd in 3-pt percentage (37.5).
 
TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK
UMBC ranks 27th in the country with a 1.43 assists/turnover ratio. UMBC is 22nd in the country in turnovers per game (10.7). Starting point guard Craig Beaudion II is 35th in the country in assists/turnover ratio (2.85). He's also tied for 5th in the AE in steals per game (1.45). UMBC is 6-2 win they win the turnover battle this season.
 
BENCH MOB
UMBC's bench ranks 31st in the country with 29.2 ppg. Matteo Picarelli leads the charge at 11.8 ppg.
 
THAT 70'S SHOW
The Retrievers have scored 70 or more points in 10 straight games, the first time they have done so since the 2000-01 season.
 
AMERICA EAST LEADERS
UMBC leads the conference in free throw percentage (.767), 3-pt field goals per game (10.1) and assists/turnover ratio (1.43).
 
UP NEXT
UMBC will host defending America East champion Vermont on New Year's Day at "The Peake".