UMBC and Lehigh Fill Up the Scoreboard in a Saturday UMBC Win

By: Ethan Hennessy

Catonsville Maryland

Lehigh started the game with Momah, Higgings Jr. Sinclair, Parolin, and Whitney-Sidney. The lineup provided size at each position which was something Dr. Reed talked about with me in the offseason. Bube Momah had a couple of nice baseline drives early in the game. After the game Dr. Reed said about Momah “It is interesting to watch him grow and develop. There are things he is still learning… there is growth that is taking place. Today I think it was important he got high percentage shots at the rim.” This game was fast paced which is the play style of both teams but particularly UMBC. The Retrievers were shooting the ball well from three early on connecting on four of their first five three point shots.

UMBC has an answer though after falling behind by seven they made four of their first five shots and retook the lead. Both coaches seemed agitated at their respective team’s transition defenses. Jim Ferry called a 30 second timeout where he berated his guys for their effort in that department. A few possessions later Dr. Brett Reed did the same. UMBC took a 45-40 lead into halftime.

In the second half UMBC kept Lehigh at arms length for the first few media timeouts. Lehigh played a lot of isolation ball throughout the entire game. The Mountain Hawks only recorded 7 assists in the entire game. Keith Higgins Jr. kept Lehigh in the game with back to back buckets around the eleven minute mark. Higgins Jr. also gave up fouls on back to back possessions forcing the coaching staff to sit him for a few minutes.

Lehigh retook the lead on a Tyler Whitney-Sidney three at the 6:48 mark. Both teams traded three pointers going shot for shot. UMBC got a couple of key stops in the final two minutes. The retrievers pulled out a 92-87 win.

UMBC next takes the court on Wednesday when they face off against Morgan State in Hill Fieldhouse. For the Mountain Hawks they will face non division one Cairn on Saturday.