The University of Mary Washington men’s basketball program remained one of the upper echelon teams in the Middle Atlantic Region in 2008-09, this despite losing a pair of 1,000-point scorers from its roster to graduation in 2008. The Eagles finished with a 14-12 overall record, extending its streak of only three teams in the region to have won at least 14 games in each of the past seven seasons. Along the way, the Eagles finished third in the Capital Athletic Conference regular season standings and advanced to the CAC semifinals.
The Eagles opened the season by shooting 53 percent from the floor in an 82-77 victory over Arcadia College. Leading the way was All-CAC senior guard Matt Hale, who scored 23 points, including 4-6 three pointers. The Eagles then suffered an uncharacteristic early-season slump, dropping their next three games, including a loss at eventual Final Four-bound Franklin & Marshall College and an overtime setback to Shenandoah University.
With the start of conference play, the Eagles rebounded to win their next two contests, a 70-62 win at Salisbury University (led by Hale’s 24 points), and a 77-68 win in the home opener over Hood College (with all-region junior center Brandon Altmann netting 20 points and grabbing 17 rebounds). After falling to Methodist College, the Eagles topped Piedmont College, 80-64, and then downed Albright College, 67-64, at the Las Vegas Shootout during the holiday week.
Returning home from Vegas, the team continued its winning ways in the CAC by defeating York College, 86-69, and Gallaudet University, 80-69, in league play at Goolrick Gymnasium, moving to 4-0 in the CAC standings. An overtime setback at St. Mary’s College preceded three league wins, over Marymount University (60-55), Stevenson University (73-54), and Salisbury (79- 73), with an overtime defeat at Wesley College moving the Eagles’ conference record to 6-2 at the midway point.
UMW then had three consecutive road contests, falling at York and Hood before rebounding to top Gallaudet, 86-80. A rare home loss, to St. Mary’s, followed, marking the only home defeat of the season. The Eagles rebounded to top Wesley, 91-90, and Stevenson, 77-56, at home to close the regular season in third place in the conference. Altmann scored the game winner against Wesley in the final seconds as part of his 21 point, 17 rebound effort on the night.
Mary Washington opened play in the CAC Tournament as third seed, and hosted sixth-seeded York College. Altmann continued his late season surge by pouring in 26 points with 17 rebounds in his sixth straight doubledouble as the Eagles won, 83-76, and advanced to the CAC semifinals at Wesley. A flurry of three-pointers to open the second half were too much for the Eagles to overcome in a 98-79 setback, despite Altmann’s 23 points and 12 rebounds and Hale’s 14 scores.
Altmann and Hale would go on to gain first team All-CAC honors, the first time since 1997-98 that the Eagles had two first team selections. Altmann was also named to the D3Hoops.com all-region second team after averaging 17.1 PPG and 11.1 rebounds per contest. Hale, who became the 16th player in school history to surpass 1,000 points, did so in three seasons after transferring to Mary Washington following his freshman year. In addition, the Eagles saw the return of senior forward Kiernan Whitworth in 2008-09, who was healthy after missing the entire 2007-08 season with a broken foot. Whitworth averaged 10.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Senior guard Kevin Storus also emerged, averaging 5.7 PPG, as did freshman Tad Dickman, who scored 6.0 PPG in starting the final 15 games of the year. Junior guard Ben Stokes scored 6.9 PPG.