Stony Brook, N.Y.-- UMBC men's basketball (6-9, 1-3 AE) , playing for the second time in three days, shot just 31 percent from the floor in a 65-51 loss at Stony Brook on Monday night. The Retriever held a first half lead, but the Seawolves used a run in the second half to take the lead for good.
Yaw Obeng-Mensah (Toronto, Ontario) led the way with 10 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Both teams started the game struggling from the floor. Nathan Johnson (Adel, Iowa) and L.J. Owens (Annapolis, Md./Severn School/William & Mary) gave UMBC their first lead with back-to-back threes at six points.
- That sparked a 15-3 UMBC run over 6:53 to give them a double-digit lead. Ray Salnave (Elmont, N.Y.) hit five straight on an elbow jumper and wing three on the run.
- However, the Seawolves found their stride, ripping off a 14-0 run over 5:23 to give them the lead back.
- Darnell Rogers (Baltimore, Md./Indian Land (SC)/New Mexico JC) drilled a deep three to end the drought, but a Stony Brook bucket at the buzzer gave them a 29-26 lead at the break
- Salnave and Rogers led the way in the first 20 minutes with five points each. Keondre Kennedy (Atlanta, Ga.) had nine first-half rebounds.
- UMBC struggled early in the second half, with Szymon Wojcik (Wroclaw, Poland) breaking a scoring drought with a tough and one finish.
- That helped kickstart the Retrievers who put together a 5-0 spurt to cut the deficit to single digits, forcing a Stony Brook timeout.
- But the Seawolves responded, holding the Retrievers scoreless over a three-minute stretch to push ahead by double digits.
- The Seawolves would keep a double digit lead the rest of the way, defeating the Retrievers 65-51.
NOTABLE:
- Obeng-Mensah was the lone Retriever in double figures with 10 points adding six rebounds.
- Salnave added eight points with Kennedy grabbing nine rebounds.
The Retrievers will continue their tough stretch on Wednesday, Jan. 19 against UAlbany at The Peake. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN3.
