Video Highlights | Coach Odom Postgame | Brandon Horvath Postgame 

Albany, N.Y.-- UMBC men's basketball opened up their America East schedule with a hard-fought 65-64 win against UAlbany on Saturday afternoon. The Retrievers got another big day from senior Brandon Horvath (West River, Md./Southern) who led the way with 18 points and seven rebounds, one of three in double figures. UAlbany had a chance late, but their attempt at the buzzer was off the mark.

UMBC wins their fifth in a row to move to 5-1, 1-0 AE while the Great Danes fall to 0-1, 0-1 AE after their first game of the season. 

Horvath had 18 points on 7-13 shooting to lead UMBC. R.J. Eytle-Rock (London, England) and Darnell Rogers (Baltimore, Md./Indian Land (SC)/New Mexico JC) chipped in 14 points each with Eytle-Rock adding six assists. 

Antonio Rizzuto led UAlbany with 14 points on 4-7 shooting from three and had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but was just off the mark. Classmate Cameron Healy added 13 points with CJ Kelly adding 10 in the loss. UMBC shot 43 percent from the floor including 45 percent from three in the second half. UMBC outrebounded UAlbany 39-28 and had 17 points in transition. 

The Retrievers got out to an early 7-0 lead that saw Horvath knock down four straight to give UMBC an early advantage. But as was the case for most of the first half, the Great Danes responded with an 11-0 spurt to give them their first lead, holding the Retrievers scoreless over a 3:27 stretch. UMBC answered with an 11-0 run of their own to retake the lead. Darnell Rogers drilled a three with Keondre Kennedy (Atlanta, Ga.) and R.J. Eytle-Rock adding layups on the run. 

Both teams had turns with the lead in the half, but it was the Great Danes who led 36-32 at the break. Horvath led the way with eight points with Eytle-Rock adding seven and four assists. The Retrievers outrebounded the Great Danes 20-15 and shot 43 percent, but nine turnovers hurt UMBC in the half. 

UAlbany came out of the locker room and extended their lead to seven before the Retrievers fought their way back. A pair of triples from Rogers and Eytle-Rock tied it at 44-44 early forcing a timeout. That sparked a 13-2 run over a four-minute stretch to give UMBC the lead back. 

UMBC hit their stride getting a big three from newcomer Jacob Boonyasith (Grand Rapids, Mich.) in his first game as a Retriever that gave them their largest lead at nine late. However, the Great Danes battled, cutting the deficit to just one with less than a minute. Rizzuto had a shot at the buzzer to win it but missed the mark to let UMBC hold on 65-64. 

The Retrievers and Great Danes conclude their series tomorrow, Sunday, December 20 at 2 p.m. Live action can be seen on ESPN 3 and the ESPN app.