BALTIMORE – Senior guard Bryce Johnson poured in a career-high 33 points; however, the UMBC men's basketball team dropped a 79-76 decision against the New Hampshire Wildcats in an America East Conference game on Thursday evening at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena.

Johnson, who has scored over 20 points in five of his last six contests, hit 11-of-18 field goals and matched his career-best with six treys. He also led the Retrievers (9-9, 1-2 AE) with eight rebounds and played a team-high 38 minutes.

Junior forward Louie Jordan (13 points, six rebounds), senior guard Marcus Banks Jr. (10 points, two steals), and graduate student forward Josh Odunowo (10 points, five rebounds) were all in double-figures in scoring.

The Retrievers trailed by as many as 14 points with 17:04 remaining in the game but clawed their way back and had an opportunity to even the game in the closing seconds.

Trailing 57-45 at the 13:40 mark, UMBC scored 11 consecutive points to close within 57-56 with 10:13 left in the contest. Banks Jr. ignited the run with a trey, and Johnson followed up with back-to-back threes. Johnson then converted a driving layup to cap the stretch.

The visitors (4-15, 2-2 AE) answered right back and outscored the Retrievers by a 13-4 margin to extend their lead back to double digits at 70-60 with 6:56 left.  

Jordan hit a pair of free throws and then buried a trifecta with 1:52 left to bring UMBC within 74-71 with 1:52 on the clock.

Poser hit a clutch three-pointer on the next possession to give the Wildcats a 77-71 edge with 1:23 left, however, Johnson swished his final trey of the night to bring the hosts within 77-74 with just over a minute left.

UNH misfired on their next trip down, and Banks Jr. converted a fast break layup to make it 77-76 with thirty-three seconds left.

Anthony McComb III delivered two free throws, but UMBC still had a chance to get even in the final seconds.  Banks Jr. had an open look from the left wing, but his long-range attempt rimmed in and out with just three ticks left.

The Retrievers put McComb III back on the line, but he missed the front end of a one-and-one. UMBC got the ball to sophomore guard Ace Valentine. However, his desperation heave from the three-quarter court was well off to the left at the buzzer.

UMBC led for the last time at 26-25 after Jordan's bucket in the paint with 7:56 remaining in the opening half. UNH finished the stanza on a 21-12 run to take a 46-38 advantage at intermission.

Guard Sami Pissis led the Wildcats with 17 points, and guard Khalil Badru recorded a double-double of 10 points and 10 caroms.

UMBC will host Maine on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.