Towson, Md.-- UMBC men's basketball battled with local-rival Towson, but a late push by the Tigers gave them the lead for good in a 77-71 loss for the Retrievers on Tuesday. Sophomore Keondre Kennedy (Atlanta, Ga.) led four in double figures with a career-high 15 points. 

The Retrievers fall to 5-6 on the year while the Tigers improve to 5-5. 

Kennedy scored a career-high 15 points, leading four Retrievers in double figures. Daniel Akin (London, England) and L.J. Owens (Annapolis, Md./Severn School/William & Mary) each had 13 points with K.J. Jackson (Missouri City, Texas) adding 12.

Brian Fobbs led the Tigers with 33 points, going 9-16 from the field, including 7-9 from three.

Towson came out in the second half scoring the first six points of the half, forcing an early UMBC timeout. Kennedy started to heat up in the half, scoring seven straight to end the run and tie it at 46-46.

That sparked a 10-0 UMBC run, capped by a Max Curran (Hooksett, N.H.) three to give UMBC the lead back. It would be back and forth throughout the half with both teams taking turns with the lead. Jackson and Curran brought UMBC back to tie it with a pair of and one's, but Towson would hit their free throws down the stretch, holding UMBC without a field goal over a three minute stretch in a 77-71 win for the Tigers.

UMBC shot 52 percent from the floor and outscored the Tigers 23-9 in bench points, but the Tigers used ten three's in the win, scoring 47 second-half points.

Towson got out to an early lead thanks to a pair of Brian Fobbs three's early on. L.J. Owens got the Retrievers on the board with his pull up jumper just minutes in. That sparked a 6-0 run for the Retrievers that held Towson scoreless over a two-minute stretch.

From there, the game went back and forth with the Tigers going on a run to take a three-point lead, but once again Owens had the answer, this time with a deep triple to tie it at the under 12 media timeout. The Retrievers would put together a 7-0 run fueled by four points from Daniel Akin to give UMBC the lead. Towson would put together a 6-0 spurt to retake the lead but it was shortlived as Keondre Kennedy drilled a three in front of the Tiger bench to give UMBC the lead back.

Towson would get a jumper at the buzzer to cut the Retriever lead to 33-30 at the break. Akin led the Retrievers with 10 points on 5-6 shooting with Owens adding nine points. The Retrievers shot 57 percent from the floor, getting 10 points from their bench.

UMBC will close out the week against Coppin State on Sunday, Dec. 15. Tip-off with the Eagles is set for 1:30 as part of a double-header with the women who play Morgan State at 11 a.m.