Chris De La Rosa had the best game of his career but his efforts were not enough for a win. [Corey Johns-TRW]

When a college basketball team scores 71 points in a game it should be enough for them to win the game, but with UMBC that was not the case as their defense continues to struggle.

Though Pennsylvania was better than their 0-10 record going into the game indicated, UMBC should have come away from the game with a win. The Quakers fired their coach and interim coach Jessie Allen was only in charge of his fourth game, they were allowing over 83 points per game, and were not playing well offensively.

While UMBC shot 50% from the field and 53.8% from three point range, their defense just could not stop the Quakers’ offense that also shot 50% from the field, but made 13 three-pointers to UMBC’s six.

“The guys have to understand the importance of the defense and we’re not playing well there right now which is disappointing,” coach Randy Monroe said.

Poor defensive play has been the issue all year for UMBC. They are allowing 73.1 points per game, and teams are shooting 44% against them this season while they are averaging just 60.1 points per game.

“We work on it everyday. It takes commitment. It takes getting into stance and be willing to do it. But evidently these young guys are trying to grasp concepts and understand what it is that we want them to do,” Monroe said.

In the first half only four players found a way to score but Chauncey Gilliam looked to be off to a career day as he scored 16 points before the break. Bur after the break Gilliam was held to just two points which came in the final two minutes of the game.

“We knew he was one of the keys to the game because he’s such an aggressive scorer,” Allen said. “At halftime we talking about making the adjustment of just paying attention to him and I thought all our guys on the perimeter locked on and paid more attention to him.”

Pennsylvania coach Jessie Allen made a defensive switch at half time to double team Gilliam every time his touched the ball. If proved to be effective as he only scored two points in the second half after scoring 16 in the first. [Corey Johns-TRW]

While the rest of the offense continued to struggle in the second half, point guard Chris De La Rosa put the team on his back and did every thing he could to try and win the game. He scored a career high 28 points, made two three’s, had five assists, three rebounds, a steal, and no turnovers.

“Chris did a very good job and his numbers showed it and he’s getting better and better,” Monroe said.

But despite his efforts, the defense allowed Pennsylvania to shoot 60% in the second half and 47 points while they missed just one shot in the final 10 minutes of the game.

“We have to put it all together,” Monroe said. “We have 15 more games to go and they are all league games now and we have to get ready for them.”