Baltimore, Md.-- UMBC men's basketball fought back from a double-digit deficit in the second half, but it was not enough as UAlbany defeated the Retrievers, 67-63 on Wednesday. Junior Daniel Akin (London, England) recorded his second career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. 

UMBC falls to 9-13, 2-5 AE while the Great Danes improve to 12-10, 5-2 AE. 

K.J. Jackson (Missouri City, Texas) led a trio of Retrievers in double figures with 18 points adding three rebounds, four assists and two steals. Akin added 12 and 10 with L.J. Owens scoring 10 points in the loss.

Malachi de Sousa led UAlbany with 15 points on 5-7 shooting with six rebounds. Trey Hutcheson and Ahmad Clark each had 13 points with Antonio Rizzuto and Cameron Healy netting 10. 

The Great Danes raced out to a fast 11-3 lead early on. The Retrievers would respond with a 7-0 run of their own to cut the deficit to just one. That would spark a 13-3 run over a 4:40 span to take their first lead 16-14 at the under 12 timeout. 

However, UAlbany would use a 10-0 run to end the half and take a 27-23 lead into the locker room. Brandon Horvath (West River, Md./Southern) and Daniel Akin led the way for the Retrievers with eight points and six rebounds each. UMBC shot 36 percent as a team, but committed 11 turnovers in the first 20 minutes. 

The Retrievers would fight back after the break scoring five straight to tie early, but the Great Danes would take the lead back on the next possession. Akin then converted an and one to make it 34-32 at the under 16 timeout. 

L.J. Owens would respond with a corner three after the timeout to give UMBC the lead back but it would be short-lived as the Great Danes ripped off a 7-0 spurt to take a six-point advantage. UMBC would hold UAlbany scoreless over a three-minute stretch, using a 10-0 run to erase a double-digit deficit and tie the game. 

Down the stretch with UAlbany up five, Owens canned a three to make it a two-point game. After UMBC got a stop on the defensive end, the Retrievers turned the ball over and UAlbany held on down the stretch winning 67-63. 

UMBC shot 45 percent from the floor and scored 34 of their 63 points in the paint, but the Retrievers turned the ball over 16 times, leading to 19 Great Dane points. 

The Retrievers are back at it on Saturday, Feb. 1 when they head to Stony Brook for a 7 p.m. tilt with the Seawolves.