Box Score DOVER, Del. – Behind a 46-point second half, the UMBC men's basketball team (6-4) rallied to defeat the Delaware State Hornets (2-8), 81-60, on Wednesday, December 6.
In his first start since November 24, graduate student Jairus Lyles (Silver Spring, Md./DeMatha) put up 21 points in the effort, going 5-9 from beyond the arc. He also dished out a season-high six assists.
Senior K.J. Maura (San Juan, P.R.) added 15 points after going 5-8 from the three-point line, helping UMBC to a 48.5% day from downtown. Sophomore Arkel Lamar (Bridgeport, Conn.) also added 15 points in the effort; the sophomore is currently 10th in the country in three-point percentage, hitting 54.2 percent of his shots from long distance
After being down 40-35 at the intermission, the Retrievers opened the second half with a 9-0 run, starting with a Lamar three-pointer and tip-in to tie things up at 40. Two baskets, including a trey, by junior Joe Sherburne (Whitefish Bay, Wisc.) helped to put UMBC up, 47-40, on the Hornets before the hosts made a basket at the 15:01 mark.
UMBC went on a 37-13 run in the opening 14:30 of the second quarter to lead Delaware State, 72-53, with Maura and freshman Brandon Horvath (West River, Md./Southern) hitting treys on three consecutive possessions.
After the Hornets shot 51.6% (16-31) from the field in the opening half, the Retriever defense held the hosts to a mere 29.2% (7-24) in the second 20 minutes of play, forcing nine turnovers.
UMBC led 16-15 with 13:13 remaining in the first half before Delaware State opened an 8-2 run. Artem Tavakalyan converted a three-point play for a 27-19 lead at the 9:05 mark, the team's largest lead of the night.
Hornets guard Jonathan Walker led the hosts with 19 points, going 7-14 from the field.
The Retrievers return to action on Saturday, December 9 as the travel across town to Towson for their fourth straight road contest. The game will tipoff at 2:00 p.m. from SECU Arena.
