Scott Hicks shook up his Loyola College lineup, and UMBC in the process.
It's time for substantial change when you've got a 12-50 record a month into your third season with the Greyhounds, four straight losses and another four-game losing streak to a cross-town rival, so Hicks went with three new starters last night at Reitz Arena. It paid immediate dividends, as Loyola never trailed after the second minute and rolled to a 62-43 win over the Retrievers.
"That's as hard as we've been played against in a couple of years," UMBC coach Tom Sullivan said after Loyola's most lop-sided win since February 1999. "In no uncertain terms, they kicked the hell out of us."
UMBC (3-1) handled Loyola in the title game of the Battle of Baltimore tournament at Morgan State last month. The Retrievers expected to continue their spell over the Greyhounds and remain unbeaten on Cold Spring Lane, but Hicks put a different spin on his rotation and the rivalry.
Sophomore Bernard Allen and freshmen Bobby Bossman and Linton Hinds got their first starts of the season. Allen, a muscular 6-foot-5 forward, produced career highs of 14 points and 11 rebounds and showed some serious energy. Bossman, a 6-5 wing from Strongsville, Ohio, burned UMBC with four three-pointers and a game-high 18 points.
"UMBC's a tough team, but we know how good we have the potential to be," Bossman said. "I think this can turn our whole season around."
Loyola (2-4) never trailed after Bossman's three-pointer gave the Greyhounds a 5-4 lead. That began a run of nine straight points, and a 10-0 spurt later in the half doubled the score at 34-17.
Twice Hicks' young team passed to a cutter who wasn't looking and the Greyhounds went nearly eight minutes in the second half before they got a field goal, but UMBC was uninspired for long stretches.
Justin Wilson had a chance in transition to get the Retrievers within 40-34. He missed, Bossman ended the Loyola drought with a three-pointer and the visitors were doomed by their lousy shooting.
Down to nine players with center Eugene Young and forward John Zito nursing injuries, UMBC shot a miserable 5-for-29 (17.2 percent) in the second half.
In the midst of a rare five-game homestand, Loyola gets Mount St. Mary's on Sunday.
UMBC - Williams 3-3 0-0 6, Feeley 2-7 3-4 7, Washington 4-9 3-4 12, Gogerty 1-9 0-0 2, Wilson 3-10 0-0 6, Fisk 1-3 0-0 3, Dinkins 0-2 3-4 3, Hatcher 1-7 2-2 4. Totals 1-52 11-14 43. LOYOLA - Allen 5-10 3-4 14, Nijaradze 1-1 0-0 2, Jordan 4-8 5-6 14, Bossman 6-9 2-2 18, Hinds 1-4 1-2 3, Thomas 0-4 5-6 5, Southall 0-2 1-2 1, Chivers 2-4 0-0 5. Totals 19-47 17-24 62.
Halftime-Loyola, 26-19. 3-point goals-UMBC 2-19 (Washington 1-3, Fisk 1-3), Loyola 7-17 (Allen 1-1, Jordan 1-2, Bossman 4-7, Chivers, 1-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-UMBC (Washington), Home (Allen). Assists-UMBC (Washington), Loyola (Allen, Jordan). Total fouls-UMBC 19, Loyola 16. A-619.