Baltimore, Md. – UMBC sophomore guard Dion Brown scored 28 points, but the host Retrievers dropped a 93-80 decision against the UMass Lowell River Hawks, Thursday evening at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena.
 
Brown, who has now reached 20 or more points 11 times this season, hit 9-of-18 field goal attempts, and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. Freshman guard Ace Valentine registered a career-high 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 15 in the second stanza. Graduate student forward Max Lorca-Lloyd added 11 points and three rejections. Sophomore forward Regimantas Ciunys came down with a personal-best seven boards.
 
The River Hawks (16-6, 7-2 AE) led from wire-to-wire, leading by as many as 20 points with 9:23 left in the contest.
 
The Retrievers (7-17, 2-7 AE) were within 15-12 after a 3-pointer by Brown at the 13:38 mark of the first half, however, the visitors rattled off nine consecutive points to widen their lead to 24-12 after a free throw by guard Ayinde Hikim (14 points, seven assists) with 11:25 remaining.
 
UMBC answered with a 7-2 spurt to close within 26-19 after freshman guard Franck Emmou's two free throws at the 9:22 mark.
 
UMass Lowell responded with a 15-5 run to take a 41-24 lead at the break. Forward Max Brooks recorded 17 points and 10 caroms in the half and hit 8-of-10 field goals.
 
UMBC managed to trim the deficit to 63-50 after Valentine converted a driving layup with 12:57 left in the contest, but the visitors went on a 9-2 spurt to claim their largest lead of the night, 72-52, at the 9:23 mark.
 
The hosts were able to get within nine points inside the final minute but were unable to get any closer.
 
Brooks enjoyed a career night finishing with 31 points (14-for-19 field goals ,19 rebounds, and three blocks in 33 minutes.
 
Quinton Mincey came off the bench to score 21 points while Cam Morris was the fourth River Hawk in double-digits with 12 points.
 
UMBC will host America East leader Vermont on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.