Game No. 27
Sears BracketBusters X
Presented Locally by WYRK
Canisius (4-22) vs. UMBC (4-22)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012
Time: 2 p.m.
Place: Koessler Athletic Center - Buffalo, N.Y.
TV: None
Online Video: Golden Griffin Broadcast Network & MAAC.TV
Radio: Golden Griffin Broadcast Network
Talent: Jay Moran (p-x-p) and Garrett Layton (color)

CANISIUS WRAPS UP HOME SCHEDULE SATURDAY AFTERNOON

• The Canisius men's basketball team closes out the home portion of the 2011-12 season this afternoon when the team hosts UMBC in the 2012 Sears BracketBusters event.
• The Golden Griffins are 4-22 overall and 1-15 in the MAAC after falling to long-time rival Niagara 60-57 in overtime Feb. 15, in Lewiston, N.Y.
• This marks the seventh time Canisius has taken part in the BracketBusters series, with the Blue and Gold holding a 4-2 record in the previous six contests.

FAST BREAK POINTS

• Prior to the start of today's game, Canisius will honor its lone senior Marial Dhal, who is the tallest player in MAAC history at 7-foot-3.
• The overtime game at Niagara on Feb. 18 was Canisius' 120th all-time, and it marked the 18th time the Griffs and the Purple Eagles went to extra time. In those 18 overtime games, Canisius and Niagara each have nine wins.
• The 117-combined points at Niagara Wednesday night stands as the fewest total points in a Canisius overtime game since Feb. 25, 1950, when the Blue and Gold lost to St. Bonaventure by a score of 53-51 in double-OT.
• The Griffs' 56 rebounds at Niagara Feb. 15 are the most for the team this season. The last time Canisius had more than 50 rebounds in a game was Dec. 16, 2009 when the squad had 56 at Duquesne in a double-overtime loss.
• Canisius junior Alshwan Hymes starts today ranked fourth among active players in the MAAC with his 161 career 3-point field goals. Hymes leads the team with 70 makes from behind the arc, which is tied for the second-most in a single season in Canisius history.
• Canisius junior Harold Washington comes into this game ranked fourth in the MAAC in scoring average with his 16.5 points per game. He has scored in double figures in all 10 of the team's previous non-league games this season.
• Junior Gaby Belardo was credited with a career-high eight rebounds at Niagara Feb. 15.
• Freshman Josiah Heath had a game-high 14 rebounds at Niagara on Wednesday, the third time this season he's been good for 10-or more rebounds in a game.

ABOUT THE RETRIEVERS

• UMBC comes into today's Sears BracketBuster contest with a 4-22 overall mark. The Retrievers snapped a seven-game losing skid at Binghamton Feb. 15, when the team posted a 70-56 win.
• UMBC is 3-11 in America East play this season.
• Sophomore Chase Plummer leads UMBC in scoring and rebounding, as he is good for 15.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. His 15.0 points per outing ranks him fourth in America East in scoring and his 7.3 rebounds per game is fifth-best in the league.
• Junior Ryan Cook is chipping in 12.6 points per game and is shooting a team best 86.1 percent from the free-throw line, which ranks fourth in America East.
• As a team, UMBC is averaging 64 points per game, while allowing 77.4 points per contest. Opponents are shooting 47.1 percent from the floor this season against the Retrievers, which ranks ninth in America East and 322nd in the nation.

CANISIUS - UMBC SERIES

• This afternoon's contest between the Golden Griffins and the Retrievers will be the first in program history.
• Canisius is 7-6 under head coach Tom Parrotta when meeting a school for the first time in school history.
• This is Canisius' fourth game this season against a first-time opponent. The Griffs have already played at Longwood, at UNLV and UMKC this season. The Griffs are 1-2 in those previous three contests.