The average fan attendance for conference play in the RAC has been 2,580. The attendance has been really appreciated by the team and they feel that it is a reason for their success.

"Players take pride at playing at home and crowds feed into the players' psyche," said coach Randy Monroe.

"That's what happens when you win, fans help you win more and they come to more games."

The attendance has grown over the course of the conference schedule. In the past three games, against Albany, Stony Brook, and Binghamton the attendance has averaged 2,960 – 380 people more than the earlier half of conference play.

"The crowd feels great and is a reason we are winning these games," said Ray Barbosa.

Greene shines above rest in two categories

Jay Greene has done something that no other player in the country has done this season. He is the lone player in college basketball to be in the top ten in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio.

Greene is fourth in the nation in assists with 164, a 7.1 per-game average, and third overall in the assist to turn over ratio with a 3.35 mark.

"When you don't have a good shooting night you have to either find guys to score or play good defense," Greene said.

Greene has more assists than, most notably, Greivis Vasquez from Maryland (146), and a better assist-to-turnover ratio than players like last years' Big 10 player of the year Drew Neitzel, who owns a 3.33 ratio.

"Greene gives up his stats for the good of the team and he is [for this team] the straw that stirs the drink," Monroe said.

Hodges day-to-day

UMBC's leading scorer Brian Hodges, who has averaged 16.5 points per game, is still out with a high ankle sprain, and has been for the past three games. Luckily for the Retrievers the team has a week off and more time for his ankle to heal.

The team has been playing well without Hodges. Matt Spadafora has been seeing more minutes, making up for any offensive shortcomings with strong defensive performances. Monroe's seven-man rotation has been cut to six without Hodges and players have been getting more time each game.

"We are winning now and will only be better when Brian comes back," Greene said.

The team has won all three games without Hodges and will be getting an upgrade to an already stout offense when he does return to the lineup.

PTI at RAC

Sunday's game received a national news spotlight on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption (PTI) last week. Co-host Tony Kornheiser mentioned the match up between the Retrievers and Binghamton and said "Go Bearcats."

"I went to Binghamton with a good friend of mine and graduated from there," said Kornheiser. The famed ESPN commentator and Washington Post columnist lives in Washington D.C. and made the 45 minute trip to the RAC Arena for the second year in a row.

"I came last year, when we were up by three points and we lost. It was a disappointing ride back home."

Before the game, Kornheiser signed autographs, took up photo opportunities, and went across the court to greet UMBC student section.

Kornheiser knew that both teams were talented, citing that Vermont or Albany usually makes it to the Big Dance and adding "If Maine, UMBC, or Binghamton got in, it would be great."

Fans were excited to see Kornheiser, sporting cut-outs of his head and yelling "What do you think now Tony?" during the game. Kornheiser mentioned the Bearcats winning the first meeting between the teams earlier this season, but this time the Retrievers came out on top 63-59 and gave Kornheiser another disappointing ride home.