The University of Mary Washington men’s basketball team faced several challenges entering the 2007-08 season, as the team opened preseason practice looking for replacements for graduated seniors Mike Lee, the second leading scorer in school history, and three-year starting point guard A.J. Fitzgerald. After one day of practice, the Eagles needed to replace a third starter when junior Kiernan Whitworth broke a bone in his foot.
Leaning heavily on seniors Jon Pierce and Justin Baker, the Eagles used a 10-player rotation and continued to excel, advancing to the Capital Athletic Conference championship for the third time in the past six years. Junior guard Matt Hale stepped into a starting role and thrived, leading the team in scoring and joining Baker on the all-conference team. Sophomore center Brandon Altmann proved to be a force inside, as the 6’9” transfer developed into one of the top big men in the CAC.
The Eagles opened the season with a 97-31 win over Penn College and then fell at Susquehanna University in the championship of the Pennsylvania school’s tipoff tournament. UMW bounced back to top Salisbury University, 69-53, in the league opener and then earned a 65-61 win at Hood College. After a controversial overtime loss at York, the Eagles defeated Shenandoah University (who two days later defeated sixth-ranked Guilford College), McDaniel College, and Manchester College on a Ben Stokes three pointer at the buzzer.
After dropping a pair of games at the Christopher Newport Holiday Classic, the Eagles won six of seven consecutive conference games to move into second place in the CAC standings with an 8-2 league record. UMW fell to York at home, but then defeated North Carolina Wesleyan College before topping Gallaudet, Marymount, and Villa Julie to grab the second seed in the CAC tournament.
The Eagles edged Villa Julie again in the CAC quarterfinals, 74-71, and received a major bonus when top-seeded York fell to eighth-seeded Salisbury, paving the way for the Eagles to host the remainder of the conference tournament. UMW defeated Marymount, 75-65, in the semifinals, and hosted fourth seeded St. Mary’s for the league championship. UMW played the title game for the second time in five years, but fell to the Seahawks, who went on to advance to the NCAA Sweet 16.
The Eagles finished 18-9 on the season and are one of just five schools in the Mid-Atlantic region to win at least 15 games in each of the past six seasons. UMW continued to thrive at home, winning 13 of 15 contests at Goolrick Gymnasium. Baker closed his career fifth all-time in scoring, rebounding, and assists in school history, while Pierce concluded a four-year career seventh all-time in points. Baker and Hale were named to the all-conference teams, and Baker earned all-region honors for the third straight year. Head Coach Rod Wood won the CAC Coach of the Year award for the fourth time.