Stony Brook, N.Y. - Senior forward Darryl Proctor (District Heights, Md.) scored 20 points and junior post Justin Fry (New Bloomfield, Pa.) recorded his second consecutive double-double with 10 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, but a controversial end-of-game sequence cost the visiting Retrievers in a 56-55 setback at Stony Brook.
UMBC is now 9-12 overall and 3-6 in conference play, while SBU improves to 12-10 and 4-5 in the league. Fry earned UMBC's America East Player of the Game honors.
Retriever junior wing Matt Spadafora (Richboro, Pa.) hit a three-pointer from the top of the key to knot the score at 55-all with 48 seconds remaining. With the shot clock running down on the Seawolves' ensuing possession, guard Chris Martin drove the wing and began to lose his balance, but Proctor was whistled for a blocking foul on the play.
Martin hit the first of two free throws in a one-and-one situation and missed the second. With two fouls to give, Stony Brook fouled Jay Greene (Whitehall, Pa.) on consecutive drives to the basket. UMBC inbounded with 5.1 seconds remaining and Spadafora's jumper from nine feet was just a bit too strong just before the buzzer.
UMBC set school records in for free throws made (0) and attempted (2).
There were six ties and seven lead changes in the first half as SBU held a 27-25 halftime advantage. Fry had a dunk to tie the game early in the second half at 31-all, but the Seawolves started a 14-6 run to enjoy the largest lead for either team at 45-37 with 11:50 remaining.
The Retrievers whittled away at the lead and cut the deficit to 51-50 on a Greene three-point field goal with 5:29 remaining. Stony Brook extended the lead to 55-50 on a pair of buckets with the shot clock in single digits, but a Proctor jumper and steal on the next possession, set up Spadafora's game-tying shot.
Spadafora was the third Retriever in double figures with 11 points, while Greene posted nine assists and two turnovers in 40 minutes. Proctor hit 10 of 17 shots from the floor, including six of seven in the second half. He added four steals and a blocked shot.
Fry played all 40 minutes and stuffed the stats with three assist and two blocked shots.
UMBC hit 14 of 28 shots from the floor in the second half and finished at 46.4% for the game, but SBU made 11 of 20 attempts in the final 20 minutes.
The Retrievers return home for the RAC In Black game vs. Boston University on Monday, Feb. 2.
