BALTIMORE—The UMBC men's basketball team
shot 41 percent from the field in the first half, but Albany shot
57.7 percent in the second half to come from behind and defeat the
Retrievers, 66-63, Wednesday night at the RAC.
UMBC (3-18, 2-6 America East) was led by America East Player of
the Game, junior Chris De La
Rosa (Washington Heights, N.Y./All Hallows/Siena), who led
the team with 15 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. It was his
fourth double-double of the season.
Grad student Justin
Fry (New Bloomfield, Pa./West Perry) and sophomore Brian
Neller (Red Bank, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) each
had 13, while freshman Chase
Plummer (Elizabeth, N.J./St. Patrick) had a season-high
five steals.
The Retrievers led by 12 at halftime, 39-27, but were unable to
stop Great Dane (11-12, 4-4) Logan Aronhalt, who scored 20 points
and hit four threes in the second half, and Tim Ambrose who
finished with 25 points.
After De La Rosa missed a three with 30 seconds to play, Ambrose
threw an outlet pass to Mike Black, who laid it in and gave Albany
its first lead since 16:24 of the first half.
After a time out, De La Rosa's jumper with seven seconds
remaining went half-way down before coming out and the Retrievers
were unable to secure the rebound.
For the game, UMBC shot 39.7 percent to Albany's 38.5, while the
Great Danes held a 41-39 rebounding edge.
The Retrievers will return to action Monday when they play at
America East rival Stony Brook at 7p.m.
