BALTIMORE– UMBC men's basketball used a blistering first half to put away Maine, 93-79 on Saturday afternoon. Senior
L.J. Owens (Annapolis, Md./Severn School/William & Mary) had season-best 20 points to lead the Retrievers on senior day. The Annapolis native also hit 1,000 career points early in the second half, becoming the 24th Retriever in program history to do so. With the win, UMBC locks up at least a four seed in the upcoming #AEPlayoffs.
UMBC improves to 15-13, 10-7 AE while the Black Bears fall to 6-22, 3-14 AE on the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Maine got the upper hand early, getting out to a quick lead, but the Retrievers quickly responded. Nathan Johnson (Adel, Iowa) poured in five straight to give UMBC their first lead 7-6 at the under 16 timeout.
- That sparked a 14-3 run to give UMBC a double digit lead. Jacob Boonyasith had eight straight points on the run.
- UMBC continued their hot shooting in the first half, using another 13-3 run to take their largest lead at that point at 41-22.
- The Retrievers would lead 52-28 at the break, shooting 54.5 percent from the floor with Boonyasith pouring in a season-best 16 points in the opening 20 minutes.
- UMBC would get out early in the second half, with L.J. Owens hitting on back-to-back threes, the first of which gave him 1,000 career points.
- Maine would cut into the Retriever lead, getting the deficit to as little as 17 midway through, but the Retrievers held off the Black Bears for a 93-79 win.
NOTABLE:
- Owens finished with a season-best 20 points, just one point off his career-best to lead five in double figures.
- Jacob Boonyasith added a season-high 16 points of his own, all in the first half.
- The Retrievers went 22-25 from the charity stripe, the second straight game of 20 or more free throws made in a game.
- Coach Ferry also became the first coach in program history to win 10 conference games in their first season with the program.
UMBC will conclude the regular season on Tuesday, March 1 when they host Binghamton. Tip-off with the Bearcats is slated for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
