Albany, N.Y.- UAlbany (9-6, 1-0 AE) heads back to Maryland one last time this season to play UMBC (2-11, 1-0 AE) at RAC (Retriever Activities Center) Arena on Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7 pm. The Great Danes won both games last year with most recent game, 83-67, on Feb. 23, 2011 at SEFCU Arena. Before that, UAlbany took the previous four of five games.Thursday's game can be heard on Fox Sports 980 on WOFX-AM in Albany. Rodger Wyland will handle the play-by-play and will be assisted by Zach Bye with color analysis.
• UAlbany continues to pour on the points offensively having averaged 76.6 points per game in its last five games (4-1 record). Junior guard Mike Black found his rythme at the point guard position dishing out nine assists against Hartford. When Black has seven assists or more, the team is 5-0. Besides Gerardo Suero (22.1), Logan Aronhalt (15.1), and Black (12.1) averaging well over double-digits in scoring, sophomore Luke Devlin has joined the scoring party averaging 10.6 points in the last six games making the Great Danes even harder to defend.
Scouting UMBC
• UMBC hit a rough patch in its non-conference schedule going 1-11. With the calendar flipping over to a new year and conference play starting, the Retrievers have started fresh and are 1-0 in the America East having taken a game on the road against New Hampshire, 82-76, on Monday, Jan. 2.
• The Retriever's offense is averaging 63.2 points per game while allowing an eye-popping 76.8 on defense. UMBC's Chase Plummer is a threat to put up a double-double on any given night. Plummer has recorded four double-doubles and is almost averaging a double-double with 13.6 ppg and 8.2 rbg.
UMBC Players to Watch
• The Retrievers have three players that are averaging double-digit points on the season.
• Chase Plummer is UMBC's most dangerous scorer with 13.6 ppg, shooting an impressive 42.4 percent from the floor, and grabbing 8.2 boards a game.
• Brian Neller is the Retrievers' most accurate shooter from beyond the arc boasting a 33.9 shooting percentage (41-121 FG).
• Ryan Cook, the Retrievers' 6-foot-2 junior guard, is averaging 13.0 points per game and grabbing 4.0 boards a game.
Series History
• UAlbany lead the all-time series against UMBC, 12-8. The Great Danes have won the last five games.
• In both wins last season against UMBC, Logan Aronhalt could have been looked as the Retriever killer averaging 23.5 points and 5.5 rebounds a game while going an impressive 9-of-15 from behind the arc.
Last Time Out
• The Great Danes picked up their first conference win of conference play against Hartford, 88-63.
• Gerardo Suero continues to rack up the points scoring 24 points. He has now scored 20-plus points in seven consecutive games.
• Luke Devlin netted 10 points and grabbed seven boards. He has now averaging 10.6 points in the last six games.
