POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE

Washington, D.C.-- The Retrievers opened the 2020-21 season with a 70-62 loss at Georgetown on Wednesday afternoon. UMBC trailed by as many as 18 in the second half, but a furious rally late cut the deficit to just six, but the Hoyas hung on for the win in the season opener. 

UMBC falls to 0-1 while the Hoyas improve to 1-0 on the young season. 

Three Retrievers hit double figures led by Brandon Horvath (West River, Md./Southern) and Darnell Rogers (Baltimore, Md./Indian Land (SC)/New Mexico JC) with 13 each. Horvath added 10 rebounds for a double-double with Rogers chipping in two assists. R.J. Eytle-Rock (London, England) added 11 points in the loss. 

Jahvon Blair led Georgetown with 23 points and eight rebounds in the win. Qudus Wahab had a double-double of his own with 12 points and 12 rebounds. 

UMBC came out of the locker room and hit their stride with three quick points, capped with a Horvath slam to cut the deficit to just three. Georgetown would respond with a 7-0 run in just under three minutes to increase their lead back to double digits. After a four-minute drought, Horvath once again hit a bucket to cut into the deficit. 

But as was the case all night, the Hoyas had an answer for every Retriever run. They put together a 20-5 run in six minutes that helped keep them in front for good. The Retrievers would not quit, slowly chipping away at the Hoya lead. UMBC went on an 8-0 spurt with free throws from Rogers, and buckets from Horvath, Daniel Akin (London, England) and, R.J. Eytle-Rock to make it a seven-point deficit.

The Retrievers would end the game on an 11-4 run, but the comeback fell just short in a 70-62 opening day loss to Georgetown.

Both teams shot under 40 percent with the Hoyas outscoring the Retrievers 40-24 in the paint. UMBC did force 20 Georgetown turnovers, turning them into 24 points. 

UMBC and Georgetown battled in the early going with each team exchanging turns with the lead. L.J. Owens led the Retriever offense scoring their first five points, as the Retrievers led early 10-7. That would be shortlived as the Hoyas raced out on an 8-0 run to take back the lead 15-10 at the 10-minute mark. 

That extended to a 15-5 run over a five-minute stretch to force a UMBC timeout at 22-15. UMBC responded right back with a 7-0 spurt of their own to cut it to four late, but the Hoyas would hit a bucket right before the half to take a 36-30 lead into the locker room. 

Darnell Rogers led the way with seven points with Owens chipping in five and Brandon Horvath adding four points and six rebounds. UMBC shot 32 percent from the floor compared to 41 percent by Georgetown, who outrebounded the Retrievers 29-19. However, the Retrievers did force 10 turnovers and turned them into 16 points. 

The Retrievers will head to Saint Francis PA on Saturday, November 28 to continue their season-opening road swing. Tip-off with the Red Flash is set for 3 p.m. on NEC Front Row.