NCAA News Wire
Maryland-Baltimore County 58, Longwood 53
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Wayne Sparrow scored a career-high 20 points, including four key free throws in the final minute, as the Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers held off the visiting Longwood Lancers for a 58-53 victory Sunday at the RAC Arena in Catonsville, Md.
This was UMBC’s first victory of the season. The Retrievers (1-9) lost their first nine games after repeatedly struggling on offense following the loss of top scorer Rodney Elliott when the guard suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the season opener.
The Retrievers had problems again in this game but made enough plays to win. Sparrow, a graduate school guard, converted a pair of one-and-ones in the final 41 seconds to help the Retrievers hold on.
The game was tied at 44 when UMBC scored eight straight points and never trailed again. Sparrow snapped the tie with a 3-pointer before forward Devarick Houston (13) got a dunk, and guard Malcolm Brant (14 points) drilled a 3-point shot for a 52-44 lead.
Longwood tried to rally but hurt its cause with a pair of turnovers in the final minute.
Forward Shaquille Johnson led Longwood (3-7) with 17 points.
UMBC now gets a break until next Saturday when it hosts Kennesaw State. Longwood will go to Miami of Ohio on Wednesday.
