Durham, N.H.-- Senior K.J. Jackson (Missouri City, Texas) poured in a game-high 22 points, scoring 17 in the second half, but the Retrievers could not complete the comeback against the Wildcats on Saturday. The Retrievers put up 44 second-half points in the loss. 

UMBC falls to 7-12, 0-4 AE while the Wildcats improve to 9-9, 2-3 AE on the year.

R.J. Eytle-Rock (London, England) opened the half with a pair of three's to cut into the halftime deficit. That would spark a UMBC run thanks to jumpers from L.J. Owens (Annapolis, Md./Severn School/William & Mary) and Brandon Horvath (West River, Md./Southern) to force a Wildcat timeout down just 11.

The Wildcats would lead by as many as 15 in the second half, but the Retrievers never wavered. UMBC used a 9-0 run, capped by a Jack Schwietz (Frisco, Texas) three to cut the lead to single digits. Another 11-2 run late pulled the Retrievers to within five at the under four media timeout.

Keondre Kennedy (Atlanta, Ga.) would knocked down a triple late, followed by a pair of Jackson free throws to make it a one-point game with under one minute to go. Eytle-Rock would get a layup with 23 seconds to go to make it a one-point game again. The Retrievers would get a good look down three late, but Horvath's three was off the mark, as the Retrievers fell 65-60 on Saturday.

Jackson led the way with 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals. Horvath added 14 with Eytle-Rock chipping in 12 points. The Retrievers shot 42 percent from the floor and went 7-15 from three (47 percent).

Nick Guadarrama paced UNH with 17 points. Sean Sutherlin recorded a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. 

UMBC jumped out to an early 5-2 lead but the Wildcats would use a 6-0 spurt over a three-minute stretch to take the lead. K.J. Jackson ended the drought with a driving layup and bring UMBC to within one. 

The Retrievers would retake the lead, but once again UNH had an answer with a 7-0 run to take a ten-point lead and never trail the rest of the half at the under eight timeout. R.J. Eytle-Rock ended the scoring drought with his layup to get it back to a ten-point deficit, but the Wildcats would take a 28-16 lead into the locker rooms.

Brandon Horvath and Jackson each led the Retrievers with five points in the opening 20 minutes. UMBC shot 30 percent from the floor and just 1-8 from the foul line.

UMBC returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 22 when they face Hartford at 7 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN+ from West Hartford.