Jan. 29, 2004

Click here to listen to the women's game beginning at 6:00 pm
Click here to listen to the men's game beginning at approximately 8:00 pm The broadcast will be aired on Sportstalk 960 AM tape-delayed beginning at approximately 10:30 pm Thursday night

Click here for complete men's game notes
Click here for complete women's game notes
Download Free Acrobat Reader

The Men's Game
The UMES men's basketball team begins a short two-game road trip with a non-conference game Thursday against the Savannah State Tigers. The Hawks (2-13, 2-6 MEAC) are coming off an 85-72 win over Morgan State Tuesday, the team's most impressive performance of the season and first home victory (1-5 at home).

The Tigers come in with a record of 1-20 thus far in 2003-'04, including 15 consecutive losses. The team's lone victory came back on 12/8 against Eastern Kentucky, 63-32. This will be their first home game since 12/22/03.

Scouting the Tigers
The Savannah State Tigers enter Thursday's game at 1-20 overall. The team has lost 15 straight contests after its lone victory of the season, December 8th at home against Eastern Kentucky, 63-62.

The Tigers are one of Division I's four remaining independents, meaning the school is not affiliated with a conference. After a loss to Jacksonville on 12/22, the team has played ten straight games away from Tiger Arena (and gone 0-10). This season the Tigers are only 1-4 at home (and 0-16 away from it).

Savannah State is led in scoring by sophomore guard Jamal Daniels at 12.1 ppg. Junior guard Donald Carson averages 8.1 ppg and 4.4 rebounds per contest.

News and Notes
The 85 points scored by the Hawks against Morgan State was the most scored by the team in any game since 2/22/03, when UMES scored 91 against N.C. A&T...Tuesday's game was the 100th at UMES for head coach Thomas Trotter. With the win, he now has a record of 30-70 (.300)...This season UMES has matched its start to that of '02-'03 after 15 games (2-13). The Hawks did not win their third game last season until game number 19...Even after shooting 48% from the field against Morgan State, the Hawks are still shooting only 36% from the field as a team this season...The Hawks have two family connections between players and coaches. Tee Trotter is head coach Thomas Trotter's son, while center Tim Parham is a cousin of assistant coach Paris Parham.

Bear Prey!
UMES bounced back from a 26-point home loss just two days earlier to record their second win of the season in convincing fashion, dumping the Morgan State Bears 85-72 Tuesday at the Hytche Center. The win included the largest scoring output of the season for the Hawks, who put five players in double figures for the first time all year.

Tee Trotter led the way for the Hawks (2-13, 2-6 MEAC) with season-highs of 26 points and eight rebounds. Aaron Wellington recorded 15 points while big-men Javes Wiggins and Tim Parham each had 13. The fifth double-figure scorer was Jareem Dowling, who tied his career-high with 12 points.

The Hawks trailed by as many as six points in the opening six minutes, but took the lead for good at 18-17 at the 9:37 mark of the first half on a Didier Socka put-back. The basket was part of a huge 30-7 UMES run, that ended with the Hawks having a 38-21 with 3:07 left in the half. After Morgan's Reggie Winkfield cut the lead to 11 on a three-point shot with four seconds remaining in the first, Trotter took the ensuing inbound pass, moved quickly across half-court and drained a 30-foot three-pointer at the buzzer to give UMES a 43-29 halftime lead.

Morgan State (6-9, 5-3 MEAC) cut the lead to eight five minutes in the second half, but could get no closer the rest of the way. The Hawks put the game away by going a perfect 16-16 from the foul line in the final 1:15 of the contest.

UMES ROSTER AT A GLANCE
Probable Starters
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
1 Tee Trotter G 5'11 180 Sr. 15.2 2.1
Only Hawk to start every game...Scored season-high 26 pts vs. Morgan St. on 7-12 FGs (most pts scored in gm by a Hawks player this season) along with 8 rebs....Second in MEAC in scoring last season (20.5 ppg)...MEAC second-team preseason selection, and candidate for Francis Pomery Naismith Award (for the nation's best player under 6'0).
32 Aaron Wellington G 5'11 160 So. 10.5 3.0
Scored 15 pts (4-12 FGs) vs. Morgan St.....Team's second-leading scorer this season...Scored season-high 22 pts at RMU 12/21...Hawks' second-leading scorer in '02-'03...Pure shooter with knack for scoring.
44 Jareem Dowling F 6'6 235 Jr. 3.9 2.4
Made 9th start vs. Morgan St. and tied career-high with 12 pts (5-9 FGs) in 35 min...Has made 4 3's this season, 3 in last 3 games (4-26 on season)...Transfer from Cecil C.C. averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds in '02-'03.
4 Javes Wiggins F 6'7 220 Sr. 5.2 6.1
Season-high 13 pts and 6 rebs vs. Morgan St...Leads team in rebounding...Was team's leading rebounder in '02-'03, also third-leading returning scorer.
42 Tim Parham C 6'9 240 Jr. 6.1 3.2
Had 13 pts and 4 rebs in 19 min vs. Morgan St....Scored 20 pts (8-10 FGs) in only 22 min vs. PSU (only 2nd D-I game)...Junior-college transfer joined team 12/20 after end of fall semester...Brings size and strength to Hawks' post game.

Reserves
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG
3 DeWitt Scott G 6'6 200 Fr. 4.0 2.2
DNP vs. Morgan St. after starting 3 of the last 4 games...Set new career highs with 9 pts and 11 rebs at Norfolk St. 1/17...Averaging 6.8 ppg in the last four games...True freshman from Chicago still getting adjusted to D-I level.
5 Lawrence Smith G 5'10 150 Jr. 0.6 0.5
4 pts and 3 assts in 20 min vs. Morgan St (first points in last ten games)...Defensive specialist with quick hands...Serves as a "pure" point guard.
10 Marcus Gutierrez G 6'4 185 So. 1.3 1.3
DNP (coach's decision) last two games....Scored career-high 6 pts (3-5 FGs) in 12 min vs. Del St...Added to roster following conclusion of fall semester.
13 Kirk Wesley F 6'3 190 Sr. 0.6 0.1
Has seen limited action off the bench in nine of the team's first 15 games...All 5 pts this season from foul line...Hard-nosed player with athletic ability.
14 Jermaul Akanbi G 6'2 165 So. 0.8 0.3
Has played in 4 games this season...Scored first FG of the season vs. Coppin State 1/24 (2 pts, 1 asst)...still growing into his ability as a D-I player.
21 Antoine Joiner F 6'5 180 Jr. 3.0 2.6
Only 2 min last 2 games (knee)...Has 7 points (3-11 FG) last six games combined (103 min)...Season-high 13 pts v. Del St 1/3...Shooting 13-48 FGs (27%).
23 Carl Pruitt (Tony) F 6'6 215 Jr. 2.6 1.6
Hasn't scored since MD game (15 total min), fighting ankle injury...Scored career-high 10 pts (4-10 FGs) at UMD, and 29 pts in exhib. game 11/14.
25 Brandon Wilson G 6'4 190 R-Fr. 1.4 0.9
No points in 13 min vs Morgan St...Scored career-high 6 points at Ill...Red-shirt freshman from Long Island, NY.
33 Didier Socka F 6'7 225 Sr. 2.2 2.3
2 pts and 4 reb in 16 min vs. Morgan St...Has been scoreless in 7 of last 10 games....Returning leader in FG % (47%) and blocked shots (15) from '02-'03.
35 Shondale Robinson F 6'5 200 So. 0.0 0.8
Played career-high 12 min at S. Car St. (0 pts, 3 rebs, 2 blks)...Brother Cedrick Rashaw played at UMES, finishing his playing career in '99-'00.
55 Jason McKinnon C 6'11 270 Jr. 2.6 3.1
0 pts and 7 rebs combined last seven games in only 44 min (4 starts)...Has started 9 of 15 games...Had first-ever double-double (11 pts, 11 rebs) at RMU...Was one of conference's top big men at Kennedy King J.C. in '02-'03.

UMES Hawks (2-13, 2-6)
Previous games:
Date Game Result
11/2 Tm. Champ. (ex) W 58-54
11/14 One on One (ex) W 88-78
11/23 at Auburn L 61-85
12/11 at Illinois L 43-85
12/21 at Robert Morris L 63-70
12/27 Portland State L 61-80
12/30 Towson L 53-61
1/3 Delaware State* L 55-60
1/5 Howard* L 50-70
1/6 at Maryland L 38-87
1/10 at N.C. A&T* W 52-50
1/12 at S Carolina St* L 53-78
1/14 at Elon L 51-54
1/17 at Norfolk State* L 54-67
1/19 at Hampton* L 62-75
1/24 Coppin State* L 42-68
1/27 Morgan State* W 85-72

Upcoming schedule:
Date Game Time
1/29 at Savannah St. 7:30
1/31 at Florida A&M* 4:00
2/2 Bethune-Cook.* 7:30
2/7 at Delaware St.* 4:00
2/9 at Howard* 8:00
2/12 Savannah State 7:30
2/14 N.C. A&T* 4:00
2/16 S. Carolina St.* 7:30
2/21 Norfolk State* 4:00
2/23 Hampton* 7:30
2/28 at Coppin State* 7:30
3/1 at Morgan State* 7:30
3/8-12 MEAC Tourn. TBA (Richmond, VA)
*denotes MEAC conference game

Thomas Trotter- Head Coach
Head Coach Thomas Trotter is in his fourth season at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. After a 5-23 season in 2002-03 and a 2-13 start this season, Trotter has a 30-70 overall record (.300 pct.).

Before his stint at UMES, Trotter was the first assistant men's basketball coach at New Mexico State University from 1998-2000 under legendary coach Lou Henson, who is currently the 7th winningest Division I coach in NCAA history.

NMSU made postseason appearances in each of Trotter's two seasons as a coach, winning the Big West Championship and losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to 3rd seeded Kentucky in 1999, then reaching the NIT in 2000 and falling to Arizona State in the first round. For a ten-year span (1988-97), Trotter served as the first assistant men's basketball coach at Northeastern Illinois University, the winningest Division I program in Chicago three out of Trotter's final four years as a coach. Before his time at NEIU, Trotter spent two seasons coaching at the high school level. Coach Trotter received his Bachelor of Arts degree in labor relations in 1985 from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. In 1992 he obtained a Master of Science in educational administration, then in 1994 he obtained a Master of Science Education in education curriculum and instruction, each from Northwestern University.

Assistant Coaches

Paris Parham- Assistant Coach
Third-year assistant basketball coach Paris Parham came to UMES from Minnesota State University, where he served as an assistant coach from 1995-2001. 'Coach P' also served as assistant to the athletic director and a coordinator for the Maverick Academic Center at Minnesota State.

Parham was a player at Lincoln College in Lincoln, IL, where he served as team captain in both of his playing seasons. He then went on to play at Minnesota State from 1993-1995, and was selected team captain in 1995. Parham was an all-conference selection in the North Central Conference that season. He ranks eighth all-time at Minnesota State in career assists.

Brian Kusnierz- Assistant Coach
Coach Brian Kusnierz is a third-year assistant coach with the UMES basketball program. He was previously at Concordia University in River Forest, IL, where he served two seasons as an assistant coach.

A three-year starter at Angelo State University in Texas, Kusnierz served as team captain for the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons. An all-conference selection in 1998, he was voted as the team's Most Valuable Player. He finished his playing career ranked in the school's top three list in assists and steals.

The Women's Game
The UMES Lady Hawks open a short two-game road trip with a non-conference battle against the Savannah State Lady Tigers Thursday. The game tips off at 6:00 from Tiger Arena in Savannah.

The Lady Hawks are currently 4-10 (2-6 MEAC) in 2003-04, but are coming off their most impressive performance of the season, a 37-point win against Morgan State Tuesday. All six of the team's MEAC losses have come by 8 points or fewer. Savannah State, an independent (not affiliated with a conference), is 5-15 this season, including an 83-44 loss at Jacksonville State Monday night. The team has lost six of its last seven games overall.

News and Notes
The 94 points scored by the Lady Hawks against Morgan State were the most scored in a game by the team in at least the past two seasons. Last year's high total was 88 (2/1/03) and this season's before Tuesday was 77 (11/23)...Tuesday's game against Morgan State was the 100th at UMES for head coach Surina Dixon. With the win, she now has a career record of 33-67 (.330 pct.)...Tiffany Winkfield is off to a great start to the '03-'04 season. The senior has recorded a double-double in nine of the first 14 games, and is leading the team with both 15.7 ppg and 11.9 rpg....Octavia Thompson led UMES in scoring in three of the team's first four games and averaged 19 ppg in those contests. The junior has cooled off however, reaching double-figures in only two of the team's ten games since. She is 2-17 shooting FGs in the last two games combined, and now averages 11.5 ppg (still third on the team). Thompson did not play in Tuesday's game against Morgan State....The Lady Hawks have been a second-half team in '03-'04. Despite the team's losing record, UMES has out-scored its opponents 494-489 in the second half this season.

Second-Half Fire
Tiffany Winkfield banked 15 points and a season-high 17 rebounds, and UMES blew open a close game with a huge second-half run to lead the Lady Hawks (4-10, 2-6 MEAC) to their second conference win of the season, beating the Morgan State Lady Bears (1-16, 1-7 MEAC) 94-57 Tuesday at the Hytche Center. It was the Lady Hawks' largest margin of victory since the team beat Morgan State by 32 points in the first round of the MEAC Tournament last March.

The Lady Hawks bounced back from two consecutive heartbreaking defeats, as they pulled away from a ten-point halftime lead by outscoring the Lady Bears 58-31 in the second half. After Morgan pulled within 39-31 one minute into the half, UMES caught fire. The Lady Hawks went on a 39-7 run over the next 11 minutes to take a 40-point advantage, matching their largest lead of the game.

Winkfield recorded her ninth double-double of the season, while Laconia Hatcher scored a career-high 19 points. Freshman Qiana Cheatham also set a new career-high with 12 point off the bench. Jennyffer Vargas led the Lady Bears with 13 points, while freshman teammate Whitney Johnson added 12 points.

UMES Hawks (4-10, 2-6)
Previous games:
Date Game Result
11/15 NWBL Elite (ex) W 102-97
11/21 at Memphis L 63-89
11/23 at Ark-Pine Bluff W 77-60
11/28 vs. Louis.-Laf.# W 60-57
11/29 at Maryland# L 65-97
12/3 at St. Francis L 48-56
12/20 at Towson L 67-92
1/3 Delaware State* L 50-52
1/5 Howard* L 74-79
1/10 at N.C. A&T* L 61-68
1/12 at S. Carolina St* L 68-75
1/17 at Norfolk State* W 72-63
1/19 at Hampton* L 59-60
1/24 Coppin State* L 55-63
1/27 Morgan State* W 95-57

Upcoming schedule:
Date Game Time
1/29 at Savannah St. 5:30
1/31 at Florida A&M* 2:00
2/2 Bethune-Cook.* 5:30
2/4 American 7:00
2/7 at Delaware St.* 2:00
2/9 at Howard* 6:00
2/12 Savannah State 5:30
2/14 N.C. A&T* 2:00
2/16 S. Carolina St.* 5:30
2/21 Norfolk State* 2:00
2/23 Hampton* 5:30
2/28 at Coppin State* 5:30
3/1 at Morgan State* 5:30
3/8-12 MEAC Tourn. TBA (Richmond, VA)
*Denotes MEAC conference game
# at Terrapin Classic, UMCP

Surina Dixon- Head Coach
Surina Dixon is in her fourth season as head coach for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's Lady Hawks basketball team. Her teams have compiled a 33-67 overall record (.330 win pct.) to date, after staring 4-10 and having earned 12 victories in each of the past two seasons (after only five in 2000-01). Prior to her arrival at UMES, Coach Dixon served as head assistant coach at Arkansas State University, where she helped guide the Lady Indians to their first ever Top 25 national ranking. Coach Dixon was also an assistant at Texas Southern University. Before collegiate athletics, Coach Dixon coached for ten seasons in Memphis, Tennessee at Germantown Middle School. There Dixon won eight district and six county championships, had five undefeated seasons, and compiled an overall record of 165-29. While transitioning to the college ranks, Dixon had an opportunity to both play and coach two seasons of professional basketball with the WBA's Memphis Blues. She has also worked as a coach and instructor at various camps, including the 2000 WNBA Houston Comets' training camp. At Rosedale High School in Rosedale, Miss., Dixon captained both the basketball and track teams. She then played at Mississippi Valley State University, where she graduated in 1983. Dixon later obtained her Master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Mississippi.

Assistant Coach

Destiney Avent- Assistant Coach
Destiney Avent is in her first season as an assistant coach at UMES. She has returned to her alma mater ('02) after spending one season as the head women's basketball coach at Montgomery Community College.

Avent played for two seasons at UMES. In 2002, she was named the UMES female student-athlete of the year, as well as team MVP. Before that, Avent played two seasons at Tallahassee Community College.

MEAC 2003-04 Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
Rk School Pts
1. Hampton (13) 413
2. Delaware St. (5) 385
3. Florida A&M 339
4. Bethune-Cook. 283
5. Howard (1) 261
6. MD East. Shore 203
7. S. Carolina St. 188
8. Coppin State 177
9. Norfolk State 143
10. N. Carolina A&T 119
11. Morgan State 33
(first-place votes in parenthesis)

All-MEAC First Team
G Yolanda Dixon, FAMU
G Mandy Clark, Delaware St.
F Lynetta Sullivan, Hampton
F LaKesha Wills, Coppin St.
C Kim Watson, FAMU

Second Team

G Katie Clark, Bethune-Cook.
F Tiffany Winkfield, UMES
F Lauren Forsthoff, Bethune-Cook
C Nicole Brathwaite, Hampton

-As selected in a preseason vote of MEAC coaches and Sports Information Directors