Bangor, Maine– UMBC men's basketball (7-10, 2-4 AE) used an early 24-0 run to snap a three-game losing streak in an 88-46 rout of Maine on Saturday.
Nathan Johnson (Adel, Iowa) led the charge with a season-high 17 points. 11 different Retrievers scored in the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Maine got out the gate early, going 3-4 from three over the first four minutes to take an early five points lead.
- However that would be the only lead the Black Bears would have in the first 20 minutes. UMBC found their stride after the under 16 timeout.
- Yaw Obeng-Mensah (Toronto, Ontario) hit four straight free throws to cut the deficit to just three.
- That sparked a 15-0 run that gave UMBC a 10 point lead. Keondre Kennedy (Atlanta, Ga.) had five points on the run.
- The spurt extended to a 24-0 run over a 10 minute stretch to put the Retrievers in front 28-9 at the under eight timeout.
- Maine would break the streak, but UMBC continued to keep their foot on the gas, holding the Black Bears scoreless over the last 2:02 of the half to take a 45-20 lead into the locker room.
- Kennedy led all scorers with 11 points adding five rebounds. Obeng-Mensah and Nathan Johnson added eight points, as the Retrievers held Maine to just 27 percent from the floor.
- UMBC picked up where they left off in the first half, going on a 9-0 run to open the half.
- L.J. Owens (Annapolis, Md./Severn School/William & Mary) hit back-to-back threes, with Johnson hitting an and one on the run.
- Picked up where left off. Owens three on first possession of half
- The Retrievers kept their foot on the gas for most of the second half, leading by as many as 42 after an Obeng-Mensah dunk off a feed from Kenny Sumpter (Havre de Grace, Md./Havre de Grace/Harford CC) late in the game.
NOTABLE:
- Johnson reset his season-best with 17 points on 5-9 shooting, going 6-6 from the charity stripe.
- Kennedy and Obeng-Mensah also reached double figures with 15 and 12 points respectively. Kennedy added seven rebounds, four assists and four steals to stuff the stat sheet.
- The Retrievers scored 35 points off 21 Black Bear turnovers, and shot 48 percent from the floor and 42 percent from three.
UMBC will return home to take on NJIT on Wednesday, January 26. Tip-off with the Highlanders is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
