UMBC Sets A Program Record For Threes Made

By: Ethan Hennessy

Catonsville Maryland

The Retrievers looked to snap a two game losing streak when they returned home to face local rival Coppin State. The Eagles were on their fifth straight road game out of a near month long nine game swing away from West Baltimore.

Jacob Boonyasith had 19 points only eight minutes into the game thanks to a perfect 5-5 shooting performance from behind the arc. Boonyasith who was more of a role player coming off the bench at American University in previous years has carved out a nice role as a sharpshooting scorer at UMBC. The senior had been getting off to a slow start on the season thus far, but his Jim Ferry said after the game “I think Jacob cares so much that he’s been putting so much pressure on himself… I think he just really had the right approach to play off his shooting game today… you knew it was going to come eventually and hopefully it will take off from here”. The rest of the Retrievers had it going as well raining threes on the Eagles throughout the first half. In total 15 UMBC threes found the bottom of the net in the first 20 minutes. When the scoring paused for intermission UMBC’s 65 points stood as the third most in a first half in program history and the most against a division one team.

UMBC did not cool off in the second half as they just kept scoring at will. The reserves got to pad their stats as they were brought in very early. On the defensive end they were causing problems for Coppin State. Coppin standout Sam Sessoms who previously played for Jim Ferry at Penn State chipped in 22 points but turned the ball over six times. I asked Ferry after the game what is was like facing Sessoms and he responded “I’m always going to be there for Sam. He’s always going to be there for me. I’m really happy for him, happy that he found a place he feels comfortable with.” I think we’ve done the best job of guarding him of anybody in the country so far” He continued by saying “That team is going to win a lot of games in the MEAC. We impacted this game. We made them look like they aren’t very good. They are way better, we did the best job out of anybody guarding them. It wouldn’t surprise me if they win the MEAC. Sam has a chance to lead the country in scoring.” 

Five Retrievers hit double figures in the game and despite a big Eagles rally in the closing minutes the game still ended in lopsided fashion. UMBC 109 Coppin State 82.

The Retrievers hit the road next heading to Bethlehem Pennsylvania and New York New York to face Lehigh and Columbia respectively. Coppin will head to Loyola Maryland to square off against the Greyhounds.