America East Playoff Schedule

Vestal, N.Y. - The UMBC men's basketball team defeated Binghamton in overtime, 70-67, and secured a home game in this Saturday's America East Quarterfinals. No. 4 UMBC will host No. 5 Binghamton at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

"This was a great college basketball game between two teams that fought hard the entire night with a lot on the line," said UMBC Head Coach Jim Ferry. "Both teams were really locked in and scratched and clawed on every possession. I'm really proud of our guys because we've really struggled on the road but for us to keep fighting and end up fourth with a home playoff game is a great accomplishment."

UMBC (18-13, 8-8 AE) got 13 points apiece from graduate student forwards Colton Lawrence and Tra'Von Fagan while senior wing Jacob Boonyasith added 11 points. Fagan and senior forward Yaw Obeng-Mensah both recorded eight rebounds and graduate student guard Craig Beaudion II added nine points, six assists and five rebounds. Beaudion also swished a crucial 3-point field goal to force overtime.

Binghamton (12-17, 8-8 AE) was led by guard Jakob Falko's 19 points and nine rebounds.

UMBC jumped out to a 13-3 lead six minutes into the contest but the hosts recovered and took their first lead of the game with just over a minute left before the break. The Bearcats led 24-23 at intermission as they held the visitors without a field goal for the last 7:47 of the stanza.

The Retrievers fell behind 28-23 with 18:21 left in the contest but went on an 11-4 spurt to reclaim a 34-32 edge after a trifecta by Fagan at the 15:39 mark. UMBC stretched the lead to 47-39, their largest of the second half after a triple by junior guard Matteo Picarelli with 11:02 remaining.

UMBC still led 56-50 after Boonyasith's 3-pointer from the right-wing at the 4:36 mark but the Bearcats went on an 8-2 spurt to take a 58-57 lead with 1:34 left.

The Retrievers trailed 62-59 with just twenty-two ticks left but Beaudion calmly stuck a right-wing three to tie the game with 19 seconds left.

Binghamton had a couple of chances to win in the closing seconds but the UMBC defense forced an extra session.

Lawrence converted a pair of free throws to open overtime and Obeng-Mensah followed with a bucket to give the Retrievers the lead for good. The hosts had an opportunity to force a second extra session but Dan Petcash misfired on a pair of 3-pointers as time expired.

The Retrievers got help from Maine, who defeated Bryant to help give UMBC a home game on Saturday afternoon.

Notes
- UMBC has been a top-four seed in the America East Tournament for six straight years.
- This was the first overtime game for UMBC this season.
- UMBC had not won a game in OT since a 65-64 triumph at UAlbany on 1/19/19.
- The Retrievers are 4-0 in games decided by 3 points or less this season.
- UMBC shot just 36.2 percent from the floor but held the hosts to a 36.5 percent rate.
- This was UMBC's first win when shooting under 40 percent as they were 0-7 entering the contest.
- The Retrievers picked up just their second road America East win of the season (Bryant).
- Devan Sapp, who had made just one 3-pointer in conference play this season, hit a big trey and added two free throws in the second half.
- Boonyasirh went over the 900-point mark in his career.
- UMBC will look to win all three games this season against Binghamton on Saturday..