UMBC (6-6, 0-0 AE) at Coppin State (2-11, 0-0 MEAC) | Monday, Dec. 29, 6pm | Baltimore, MD | Physical Education Center | Watch | Live Stats
 
RETRIEVER TIP-OFF   

• The Retrievers are competing in their 58th season as well as their 40th season of D1 hoops in Baltimore.
• UMBC has a record of 675-956 (.414) all-time.
• The Retrievers are 478-683 (.412) at the DI level
• UMBC was selected to finish seventh in the America East Preseason Poll.
• Graduate student Josh Odunowo was named to the America East Preseason All-Conference Team after averaging 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last season.
• The Retrievers have nine new faces in 2025-26.
• The Retrievers are 2-4 on the road and have dropped three straight contests.
• The Dawgs own the second highest winning percentage in the America East (.500) behind Vermont (.571).
• The Retrievers are second in the leaguewith a +0.9 scoring margin.
• Junior guard Jah'Likai King was named the America East Player of the Week on Monday, December 8 after averaging 19.5 ppg. against Georgetown and Bucknell.
• King is 4th in the league in scoring at 14.9 ppg.
• Graduate student guard DJ Armstrong leads the conference in 3-point shooting accuracy (.405) and 3's per game (2.8).

 LAST TIME OUT - UMBC FALLS AT SOUTH FLORIDA

• The UMBC men's basketball dropped a 92-63 decision against the South Florida Bulls on Sunday afternoon at Yuengling Center.
• Junior guard Jah'Likai King paced the Retrievers with 20 points and junior guard Ace Valentine was also in double-figures with 10 points and added a team-high seven rebounds.
• The score was deadlocked at 13-13 with 13:49 remaining in the first half as Valentine converted a jumper after a turnover.  The hosts then scored seven straight points and took their first double-figure lead at 26-15 with 8:56 left after a tip-in by Izaiyah Nelson (20 points).
• The Bulls (7-5) expanded their lead to 45-29 at intermission. The Retrievers were never able to make a run in the second half as the hosts cruised.  Guard Joseph Pinion hit seven treys and finished with 25 points to pace the Bulls.

 ABOUT COPPIN STATE

• Khali Horton's 18 points were not enough as Coppin State fell at Georgetown, 97-67, on Monday night at McDonough Arena.  
• Horton hit 5-of-9 shots from deep and 3-of-4 from the line to lead the Eagles in scoring.  Horton's 18 points were his most since scoring 19 in the season opener against Maryland while adding two rebounds, two assists and two steals.
•  Jamari Piercy and Tyler Koenig also scored in double figures, recording 13 and ten points, respectively. Piercy also had five rebounds and three blocks while Koenig matched him with five rebounds.

 SERIES HISTORY WITH COPPIN STATE

• UMBC trails the all-time series, 27-17.
• The Retrievers have won six of their last seven contests against Coppin State.
• Last season, the Dawgs cruised to an 92-67 victory at the Peake. Senior guard Bryce Johnson ignited the offense with a team-high 18 points. Ace Valentine distributed a career-high 11 assists.
• The Eagles defeated UMBC, 89-70 at the Coppin State Physical Education Center during the 2023-24 season. Justin Winston scored 37 points for the hosts. DIon Brown had 18 to pace the Retrievers.

 PLAY THAT HIT AGAIN MR. DJ

• DJ Armstrong's trey against Morgan State (11/11) was the first time UMBC hit a game-winner in the final five seconds since Craig Beaudion II. (11/20/22 vs. Central Conn.).
• Armstrong Jr. followed that up with a buzzer-beater to defeat Wagner in overtime on Nov. 16.
• Armstrong Jr. was named the America East Co-Player of the Week on Nov. 17.
• Armstrong Jr. was featured on #SCTop10 twice. Teammate Jah'Likai King also made the list after his crossover move and hoop against Penn State York.
• Armstrong Jr. is 13th in the America East in scoring (11.5 ppg.) and is first in 3s per game (2.8). He also leads the circuit in 3-point field goal percentage (.405).

 THE KING HITS A GRAND; NAMED AE PLAYER OF WEEK

• Jah'Likai King went over the 1,000 mark for his career at GW on November 18.  King scored 934 points in his first two seasons at New Haven (DII) before coming to Baltimore this season.
• King was named AE Player of the Week on December 8. The Newburg, New York native averaged 19.5 points while shooting an impressive 54% from the field during two road games last week against Georgetown and Bucknell.
• King started the week by scoring 19 points in a loss to Georgetown on Wednesday and followed it up with 20 points in a victory over Bucknell on Saturday. After trailing 26-25 at halftime against the Bison, UMBC opened the second half with a 14-6 run, establishing their largest lead of the game at 39-32 with 14:11 remaining. King contributed eight points during this crucial stretch.
• Currently, King leads the team in scoring with an average of 14.9 points per game, ranking fourth in the league. He is also 22nd in the league in rebounding, averaging 4.3 caroms per game and is 11th in steals (1.1).

ACE IN THE HOLE

• Guard Ace Valentine continues to play a key role on both end of the floor.
• Valentine leads the conference in assist/turnover ratio (2.8) and is second in assists per game (4.7).
• The junior has shot the ball well from behind the arc going 15-for-37 (.405).

 DICKERSON DELIGHTS

• Junior forward Daylon Dickerson has been perhaps the biggest surprise for the Retrievers in the early going.
• Dickerson is playing 18.4 minutes per game after just 7.8 minutes per game in his first season in Baltimore in 24-25.
• Dickerson recorded his first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the victory at Morgan State (11/11). Both were career highs.
• He's averaging 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

 NOT JOSHING AROUND

• Graduate student forward Josh Odunowo has been a model of consistency throughout this first two seasons as a Retriever.
• Odunowo is sixth in the league in field goal percentage (.545) and is a career .564 shooter.
• Odunowo is also 8thth in the league in rebounding at 5.2 per game.

 CAN YOU DIG IT?

• Sophomore forward Caden Diggs erupted for a career-high 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting in 24 minutes off the bench against Buffalo. Diggs also knocked down a career-best three 3-pointers.
• Diggs recorded his first career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds earlier in the season against Wagner.
• Diggs is seven for his last 15 from behind the arc after opening the season 1-for-12.
• Diggs has reached double-figures in scoring in four of his last six contests and is averaging 11.0 points per game during the stretch.

MILESTONE WATCH   
1000 career points, Jah'Likai King (1,113)
200 career assists, Jah'Likai King (202)
300 career rebounds, Jah'Likai King (275)
900 career points, Josh Odunowo (840)
500 career rebounds, Josh Odunowo (451)
100 career blocks, Josh Odunowo (76)
500 career points, Cougar Downing (523)
600 career points, Ace Valentine, (548)
250 career assists, Ace Valentine (232)
500 career rebounds, Paul Greene (467)
500 career points, Paul Greene (497)
800 career points, DJ Armstrong Jr. (804)
200 career 3-pointers, DJ Armstrong Jr. (188)