Lafayette did all it could defensively to stop the University of Maryland-Baltimore County men?s basketball team from scoring during last Tuesday?s men?s basketball game at the RAC Arena.
On a number of occasions, Lafayette held UMBC to one shot a possession. While that strategy limited the Retrievers? scoring opportunities, it did little toward stopping them. They shot 58.2 percent from the field, including 52.2 percent from three-point range, en route to an 86-51 victory.
The Retrievers (2-3) have now won two of their last three games after losing at Michigan, 66-54, on Saturday. UMBC will try to get back on the winning track tonight at 7:30 p.m. when it plays at Morgan State. For UMBC, defeating the Bears and improving on last season?s 10-19 record will require more performances like the one turned in last week by the backcourt duo of Chris Pugh and Jay Greene, who scored 18 and 17 points, respectively, against Lafayette.
But Pugh and Greene?s scoring is only the beginning of what they provide. Pugh, a senior who averages a team-high 13.4 points per game, also is tied for the team lead in rebounds (6.6) and is second in steals (1.8) per game. Greene, a sophomore, is averaging 12.4 points and nearly six assists a contest.
“These guys are getting used to playing together,” said UMBC coach Randy Monroe, who is in his third year at the helm. “They are starting to understand what the coaching staff is looking for.”
UMBC NOTES
» Jay Greene scored 14 points and had 10 assists in Saturday?s loss at Michigan. The Retrievers trailed by two at halftime and led briefly in the second half before Michigan pulled away later in the game.
» UMBC?s 12 three-pointers against Lafayette was one off the school record.
» UMBC is currently in the middle of a stretch of playing seven of eight games on the road, including games at St. John?s (Dec. 1), George Washington (Dec. 12) and Marquette (Dec. 16).
» This year represents UMBC?s 40th season of collegiate basketball and 21st overall at the Division I level.
