While senior guard Wayne Sparrow has replaced injured sophomore guard Rodney Elliott as UMBC's top scorer, the team may be getting some much-needed help from a player who normally plays better on defense.
Senior Devarick Houston has averaged 10.3 points on 70.6 percent shooting (12 of 17) in the last three games. Over the same span, the 6-foot-7, 195-pound wing player has recorded 17 rebounds, five assists, five steals and five blocks.
In the Retrievers' last game, Houston had 10 points on 3 of 4 shooting, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks in Sunday's 58-55 loss to Lehigh. And UMBC coach Aki Thomas said that kind of performance should not be rare for Houston.
"He's a senior, and we need him to play like that, especially heading into league play," coach Aki Thomas said Monday. "He's always been an anchor on the defensive end, but I think he's really starting to provide some offense for us.
"He can drive to the basket, hit some open shots, get to the free-throw line, make some open-floor plays. He's playing really, really well, and he knows that we're going to need him to play well."
Houston led UMBC last season in steals and blocks per game (1.5 and 0.9, respectively) and ranked second in rebounds (4.8). His attributes on defense -- long arms, leaping ability -- can also help him on offense, which is something Thomas has encouraged.
"I've just had to remind him not to hide in his role," Thomas said. "Guys know their roles, and he knows his role for us. A lot of it is on the defensive end, but it doesn't mean that you should hide in your role. He's a big guy that has certain tools that can help him do things on the offensive end, too.
"He's one of those guys who does some really good things offensively. So I don't want him hiding."