BALTIMORE – UMBC senior guard
Marcus Banks Jr. enjoyed a career day, pouring in 35 points while drilling nine trifectas to help lead the UMBC Retrievers to a 95-91 victory against the NJIT Highlanders on Saturday afternoon at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena. The victory clinched an America East Conference playoff berth.
Banks Jr. became UMBC's all-time single-season leader with 93 triples and came within one long-range make of tying a program single-game record of ten set by Brian Neller in 2012-13. The nine make are the second-most in school history.
Banks Jr. went 11-for-20 overall from the floor and buried 9-of-15 from behind the arc. He also went 4-for-4 from the foul line in 38 minutes of action.
Classmate
Bryce Johnson was sensational, and the guard added 29 points on 12-of-21 shooting and eight rebounds, which equaled a career-best. Johnson made 4-of-9 treys and added four assists. Senior guard
Marlon Short continued his hot play as the starting point guard, contributing 19 points and a team-high five helpers.
UMBC (13-16, 5-9 AE) trailed 29-16 midway through the opening half, but Banks Jr. caught fire, scoring 17 consecutive Retriever points at one point.
Trailing 35-28 with 5:07 left in the opening stanza, Banks Jr. stuck three straight bombs to give UMBC their first lead since the game's early moments, 37-35, with 3:37 left.
The Retrievers, who went 15-of-32 (46.9 percent) from distance in the contest, took a 46-42 lead at intermission after Johnson splashed a trifecta just before the horn.
The hosts never surrendered the lead in the second half and built a 12-point advantage on three different occasions, the last one coming with 10:05 remaining after a turnaround jumper by junior forward
Regimantas Ciunys.
NJIT failed to go away easily as they embarked on an 18-8 run over the next four and a half minutes to trim the deficit to 83-81 with 5:38 remaining.
Johnson, however, delivered back-to-back clutch 3-pointers to give the hosts some breathing room at 89-81 with 4:48 left.
The Highlanders inched within 91-87 with 2:36 left after a layup by forward Tim Moore, but Johnson hit a turnaround jumper inside the paint after Banks Jr. came up with a big block with the visitors looking to get even closer.
UMBC's defense shut the door the remainder of the way, and the squad held on for the win.
Tariq Francis had 27 points to lead five players in double-figures for the Highlanders.
UMBC will host UAlbany on Thursday evening.
