Plummer tied a career-high with 28 points. |
BALTIMORE- UMBC junior forward Chase
Plummer (Plainfield, N.J./St. Patrick) tied a career high
with 28 points, but a hot-shooting Loyola squad defeated the
Retrievers, 86-70, at Reitz Arena.
The MAAC defending league champions improved to 2-1 on the
season, while UMBC slipped to 1-2.
Senior guard Ryan
Cook (Laurel, Md./Pallotti) added 12 points, scoring in
double figures for a career-best seventh straight game,
while sophomore guard Joey
Getz (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) added 10 points
and a game-high four assists.
UMBC got off to a solid start, taking a 13-9 lead after a Getz
jumper with 13:25 to play in the half. But after hitting four of
its first eight shots from the field, the Retrievers staggered,
converting on just 4-of-22 the rest of the half. Loyola took
advantage, taking the lead for good at 17-15 on a Hubbard
three-point field goal with 11:12 to play in the stanza.
A pair of Cook free throws with 8:43 to play in the half cut
UMBC's deficit to 20-19, but Loyola went on a 12-2 run which gave
the hosts a 32-21 advantage with 5:51
remaining.
The Greyhounds hit 5-of-9 behind the arc in the first half and
10-of-11 from the stripe and extended the lead to 45-30 at the
break.
After falling behind by 20 points early in the second half, the
Retrievers staged an aggressive rally. Trailing 58-38, Getz fed
freshman guard Aaron
Morgan (Washington, Pa./Council Rock North) for
back-to-back treys, which spurred the surge. Plummer capped the
comeback effort with a three-pointer from the left wing and the
visitors were within 62-52 with 10:36 to play.
But UMBC could not shave the margin any smaller. Loyola hit six
consecutive free throws which help extend a 72-60 lead to 78-62
with 5:29 remaining and posted their sixth consecutive win over
UMBC in the series.
UMBC, which entered the game with a +10.5 rebound margin, was
badly hurt on the boards by the hosts. Loyola outrebounded the
Retrievers, 45-28 and blocked eight UMBC shots.
Senior forward Erik Etherly scored 17 of his team-high 22 points
in the second half.
Loyola ended the game at 50.9 percent (28-of-55) from the floor,
50 percnet (7-of-14) from behind the arc and 74.2 percent
(23-of-31) from the stripe. UMBC hit 17 of 34 shots from the floor
in the second half to finish at 40.3 percent (27-of-67).
The Retrievers have the weekend off and will host Central
Connecticut State on Tues., Nov. 20.
