Albany, N.Y.- UMBC committed 15 second-half fouls and host
Albany took advantage, outscoring the Retrievers, 20-5, from the
charity stripe for the game and winning the America East opener for
both teams, 65-48, at SEFCU Arena.
UMBC junior post Brett Roseboro
(Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) was the Retrievers' America East
Player of the Game, amassing 12 points and a game-high eight
rebounds. Senior guard Ryan Cook (Laurel,
Md./Pallotti) added 12 points for the visitors.
Albany (12-3, 1-0)( senior guard Mike Black led all scorers with
17 points and grad student guard Jacob Iati added 15.
The Danes won for the ninth time in their last ten outings.
UMBC (2-12, 0-1) trailed, 30-24 at the break, but did outscore
Albany, 4-2, by the first media time out to get within, 32-28. But
the Danes went on an 11-0 run, scoring 8 of the 11 points from the
charity stripe, to lead, 41-28 with 12:52 remaining.
The Danes extended the run to 19-3 and were never threatened
down the stretch. UMBC committed 11 fouls in the first nine minutes
of the second half and Albany was in the bonus seven minutes into
the stanza.
Eleven Retrievers saw action in the first half and UMBC was
tenacious defensively, forcing eight Great Dane turnovers. But the
Retrievers struggled on the offensive end, attempting eight more
shots than the hosts, but converting only 10-of-33 from the
floor.
Senior guard Brian Neller (Red
Bank, N.J./Christian Brothers Acad.) hit a trey to even the score
at 10-all at the 12:32 mark of the half, but Albany went on a 9-2
run and led for the remainder of the half. Freshman guard Aaron Morgan
(Washington, Pa./Council Rock North) hit a trey from the right wing
to bring UMBC to within, 28-24, with 35 second to play in the half,
but two free throws by Iati with 9.5 seconds to play gave Albany a
30-24 halftime edge.
After committing only five first half turnovers, UMBC had 11
second half miscues, resulting in 15 UA second-half points.
UMBC never got into a rhythm offensively and hit only 19-of-55
shots (34.5%) for the contest, while Albany was efficient at 45.5
percent (20-of-44). The Danes missed only five free throws on the
night.
The Retrievers head right back onto the road as they take on
Maine in Orono on Saturday afternoon.
