Orono, Maine - Senior forward Darryl Proctor (District Heights, Md.) scored a game-high 26 points, and junior wing Matt Spadafora (Richboro, Pa.) tallied a season-best 17 as the visiting UMBC Retrievers outlasted Maine, 73-68 in overtime at Alfond Arena.
UMBC improved to 10-13 overall and 4-7 in the America East Conference, taking a full game lead over Maine, which fell to 8-16 and 3-8. The Retrievers swept the season series from Maine for the first time in six years and evened the all-time series at 7-7.
Spadafora was named UMBC's America East Player of the Game as he came within one point of his career high. He hit seven of 10 shots from the floor , added five rebounds, four assists and no turnovers in 40 minutes of action.
The Retrievers committed only four turnovers in 45 minutes of basketball, but could not take full advantage due to shooting problems. UMBC missed 10 of 17 free throws in regulation and missed numerous shots inside the paint.
UMBC led, 57-53 after a Proctor jumper with 3:50 remaining. But Maine would tie the game after collecting three offensive rebounds on a possession with 2:42 remaining on a three-pointer by Gerald McLemore. After Proctor missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity with 52 seconds remaining, Maine had the last two chances, but McLemore misfired twice from three-point range, sending the game to extra time.
The Retrievers never trailed in overtime, as freshman wing Chauncey Gilliam (Columbia, Md.) opened the stanza with a driving baseline layup, then hit a pair of free throws one minute into the period. UMBC hit five of six shots from the floor in overtime, sparked by two additional jumpers by Gilliam and a pair by Proctor. Gilliam, who scored eight of his 16 points in overtime, hit a key jumper to put the visitors ahead, 69-65 with 1:24 remaining. UMBC got stops on each of the next three possessions and hit four of six free throws to seal the win.
UMBC scored 10 straight points to take an early 10-2 lead, but Maine battled back to tie the score at 32-all at intermission. Maine scored the first five points of the second half, but a Jay Greene 3-pt. field goal at the 14:16 mark gave UMBC the lead back at 41-40.
Greene and Proctor played all 45 minutes and the senior guard became UMBC’s all-time leader in minutes played with 3,828.
UMBC returns home to take on New Hampshire on Tuesday at the RAC Arena.
