UMBC

UMBC freshman wing Shawn Grant (San Jose, Calif./St. Francis) was named America East Conference Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Week, it was announced on Dec. 7.

Grant tallied a team season-high 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting in 26 minutes at Towson on Dec. 2. The 28 points tied for the fourth-most points in a game by a UMBC Division I freshman and is the most since Brian Hodges scored 28 vs. UNH on March 4, 2005 in an America East Tournament game. Grant scored 19 second-half points, leading UMBC’s rally, which fell five points short in an 82-77 setback. Grant added 12 points at Toledo on Dec. 5 and now has now scored in double figures in five of his last six games.

Grant is the first Retriever to earn a weekly conference award in the 2009-10 season and the first since Chauncey Gilliam won his fourth and final Rookie of the Week award on Feb. 23, 2009.

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UMBC ventures into Big Ten territory for the first time since the 2007-08 season when the Retrievers take on host Penn State in a 6:30 p.m. clash on Tuesday, Dec. 7 at Bryce Jordan Arena. The Retrievers have played competitively in their last two meetings with Big Ten schools, falling at Michigan, 66-54, in 2006 and dropping a 92-83 decision at Ohio State in ‘07. The game will be broadcast live by Fox 1370 Sports Radio (www.fox1370.com) with Gary Stein on the call. and can be seen on the* Big Ten Network *(Gus Johnson, Tim Crispin)*.*

RETRIEVER UPDATE:  In five of its seven games, a young UMBC squad (0-7) has trailed by four points or fewer inside the 7-minute mark of the second half. But the UMBC defense has struggled, allowing 76 or more points in four of the last five games. Sophomore wing Chauncey Gilliam paces the offense at 13.7 ppg, while freshman wing Shawn Grant, just named America East Rookie of the Week, has been in double figures in five of his first seven collegiate games and averages 12.7 ppg.

NITTANY LIONS’ UPDATE: Penn State saw its three-game winning streak halted, 45-42, at Temple on Saturday. Guard Talor Battle is the lone Lion in double figures with 18.6 ppg. Penn State looks to extend a 21-1 record vs. non-conference opponents in the Jordan Center the last three seasons.

UP NEXT: UMBC returns home for the first time since Nov. 24 when they host Rider on Saturday, Dec. 12 (7:00 p.m.). Then, it’s back on the road for another four-game set to close out the calendar year.