Greensboro, N.C. -- A valiant comeback attempt came up just short as the visiting UMBC men's basketball team dropped a 76-72 decision against the UNC Greensboro Spartans on Tuesday evening at the Greensboro Coliseum.
UMBC (3-3) swished a season-high 17 treys, including five each by graduate student Colton Lawrence (season-high 21 points) and junior Matteo Picarelli (17 points).
The Retrievers trailed by 16 points with 8:27 left in the opening half and nearly came all the way back, giving themselves an opportunity to tie or take the lead in the closing seconds. However, UNCG (2-2) forced a turnover with four seconds left and put the game away with two free throws.
Keondre Kennedy scored a game-high 24 points to lead the hosts.
How It Happened (First Half)
-The Spartans raced out to a 12-3 lead at the 16:40 mark of the first stanza as senior guard Kobe Langley connected on a pair of treys to spark UNCG's opening run.
-UMBC was within six points, 18-12, after graduate student Craig Beaudion II stuck a triple at the 12:10 mark but the hosts went on a 13-3 burst to stretch their lead to 31-15 with 8:27 left in the half.
-The Retrievers found their touch as they responded with nine straight points to trim the deficit to 31-24 with 6:11 left. Lawrence drained a pair from downtown and graduate student Jarvis Doles drilled his first trey of the night to account for the scoring.
-Trailing 33-24 with 5:06 left, UMBC went on a 6-0 run to inch closer at 33-30 with just under a minute left. Lawrence scored all six points during the stretch on a pair of jumpers and two free throws.
-The hosts settled for a 35-32 halftime edge as Beaudion beat the buzzer with a layup.
How It Happened Second Half
-The Retrievers cut the deficit to 37-35 at the 18:43 mark after a trifecta from senior wing Jacob Boonyasith.
-The Spartans answered with nine straight points to widen their lead to 46-35 at the 15:07 mark.
-UMBC refused to go away, however, as they embarked on a 10-2 run to whittle the deficit down to 48-45. Picarelli scored five points during the stretch.
-UNCG claimed a 54-47 lead with 9:19 left after 3-pointer by Langley but Lawrence and Doles knocked down back-to-back 3's to make it a one-point game with 8:11 remaining.
UMBC was still within 3 after Picarelli hit another triple with 3:14 left but the hosts pushed the lead back to 72-63 with fifty-seven seconds left.
-The Retrievers continued to claw their way back and cut the deficit to 74-72 after another bomb by Picarelli with twenty seconds left.
-Langley then misfired on two free throw attempts, allowing UMBC to have a chance to tie or take the lead.
-Picarelli drove the lane with just under five seconds left but lost control of the ball and committed a foul on Kennedy, who made two free throws to ice the game.
