BY Corey Johns
Senior Staff Writer
It was a much needed win for the Retrievers.
Not many things have been working out for UMBC this season. The team is very thin with three players leaving during the season, while others have underperformed.
But through it all UMBC still manages to have an even record with a 2-2 conference record, after defeating the Hawks 69-60, in a league in which there is yet to be a clear cut favorite with everybody beating everybody. Right now every team (except New Hampshire who has played one less game) has at least two losses.
“Coach told us that 13 games left and a lot of basketball to be played and if you check all the conference records everybody has a loss and everybody has beat everybody and we just had to come out ready for Hartford,” said guard Matt Spadafora.
Just because UMBC has been struggling doesn’t mean they are out. They still have talent, they still are starting four players from last years championship team, and all that matters at the America East level is the conference tournament which right now they are positioning themselves for. But in order to do that they have to get things done one game at a time and Saturday night they took care of business.
Five players scored in double figures with Jay Greene leading the way with 17 points and just going off beyond that arc, sinking 5-of-9 three point shots, an area which has been a problem all year for UMBC.
“I think Jason just did a really good job and took his time and he was able to measure some shots and some looks,” coach Randy Monroe said. “I think that was a big difference. He hit a couple from over where I was sitting tonight and it’s good to see him get his stroke back.”
As usual Darryl Proctor was there to back him up with 14 points and 14 rebounds. But just like the three-point success being away from the story of the season, they had help, which hasn’t happened much so far. Spadafora had his break out game of the season that can hopefully set the tone for him the rest of the way as he scored 15 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.
“I think Matt showed that he can do some really good things,” Monroe said. “He had seven rebounds and it’s something that we’ve been talking about, to get him in to get rebounds and that’s important to us because to get six or seven rebounds from Matt is an added bonus.”
Richard Flemming and Chauncey Gilliam both scored 10 points each. But if there is one worry about the team based on that game it’s Justin Fry, who has far from met expectations this year. Throughout the entire game Flemming was playing under the basket and when he fouled out towards the end the entire complexion of the game changed.
Even though UMBC had the lead they were playing shaky and were being beat inside. All season Fry has underperformed, as has Flemming, but if Flemming gets focused it might be good for Fry to come off the bench or be spotted like he was last year when splitting time with Cavell Johnson.
But beating Hartford is a good sign regardless of the absence of leading scorer Joe Zeglinski who will miss the rest of the season with a torn tendon. Without him they still have three very good scorers and do-it-all man Jaret Von Rosenberg.
“I think it was a momentum builder going on the road. It was big and built our confidence,” Greene said.
Now the team has a three game road trip that leaves them on the road eight days (Sunday to Sunday). In the trip they will play Vermont, Boston U, and Albany. That is without a doubt a tough road trip for any team but UMBC is looking forward to it, they consider it a time of bonding, fun, and an NBA-like experience.
“You’re on the road for a week, traveling, and playing basketball, it’s a tremendous opportunity for us,” Monroe said.
