New York, NY –  UMBC graduate seniors Colton Lawrence and Tra'Von Fagan recorded double-doubles to help lead the Retrievers to a gritty, 73-66, victory against the Columbia Lions at Levien Gymnasium on Tuesday evening.
 
Lawrence paced the Retrievers with 15 points and added a season-high 10 caroms while Fagan contributed a season-high 13 points and tied his career-best with 14 boards. Senior wing Jacob Boonyasith was also in double-figures with 13 points.
 
UMBC (6-4) struggled from three-point range but converted 17-of-20 of their free throw attempts on the night and pulled away late in the game.
 
How It Happened (First Half)
- UMBC led 16-10 at the 14:49 mark after senior forward Yaw Obeng-Mensah finished a driving layup.
-Columbia (4-8) fought back and went ahead 27-22 after guard Kenny Noland (15 points) scored the final seven points of a 9-0 run.
- The Lions stretched their lead to 36-28 with 3:51 left but UMBC scored the final eight points of the stanza to even the game heading into the locker room. Fagan ignited the run with a 3-pointer and also made a pair of free throws during the key stretch.
 
How It Happened (Second Half)
- The score was tied for the final time at 43-all after Noland scored inside at the 17:09 mark.
- Graduate senior guard Craig Beaudion II went coast-to-coast for a layup to put UMBC up for good and then junior guard Matteo Picarelli hit two free throws to spot the visitors a 47-43 edge at the 15:27 mark.
- Columbia would trim the lead to 53-52 with 11:03 left after another field goal by Noland but Lawrence delivered a trey in transition and then scored in the paint after the Lions went just 1-for-2 from the line.
- UMBC led just 63-59 with 6:35 left but Columbia could net get any closer. The Retrievers stretched their lead to as many as 11 before the Lions scored the final four points.

Notes
- UMBC outrebounded Columbia by a 28-10 margin in the 2nd half after the Lions held a 21-14 advantage in the opening stanza.
- The last time the Retrievers had two players with double-doubles in the same game was against Albany on 2/20/20 (Horvath/Eytle-Rock).
- Columbia made 13-of-28 3-pointers for a 46.4 clip while UMBC was just 6-for-21 (28.6 percent)
- The Lions were just 3-of-7 from the line.
- Lawrence has reached double-figures in scoring in all ten contests this season.

Quote from Coach Ferry
"Just a really gritty road win tonight. Things weren't great for us in the first half, we had trouble guarding them, but we made some adjustments and the kids really did a great job. These are bigger wins for us than the recent victories against Coppin St. and Lehigh because you really learn a lot about the team when you have to grind it out."

Next Up
UMBC will host Morgan State on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.