Tyler Kraft/UMBC Athletics

Box Score

UMBC UMBC 24-9,14-2 America East

Howard HOW 24-10,11-3 MEAC

UMBC UMBC

24-9,14-2 America East

Final

Mar. 17, 2026

Howard HOW

24-10,11-3 MEAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
UMBC UMBC	41	42	83
Howard HOW	49	37	86

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 3/17/2026 9:12:00 PM

Retrievers Historic Season Comes to a Close Versus Howard in NCAA First Four

Comeback Attempt Falls Just Short

DAYTON, Ohio - UMBC's historic season came to its conclusion on Tuesday night in Dayton as the Retrievers fell in a thriller to Howard, 86-83, in the NCAA Tournament First Four contest. UMBC finishes the season 24-9 overall, tied for the second-most wins in program history.

Jah'Likai King led a group of four Retrievers to score in double figures with 19 in the game. He was joined by DJ Armstrong Jr. (17), Caden Diggs (15), and Ace Valentine (11).

The Retrievers made a furious late comeback, trailing by 12 with 5:02 remaining, and 11 with 2:23 remaining before pulling within a bucket with 43 seconds remaining.

Trailing 83-72 with 2:23 to play, Diggs started the run, getting to the rim with 1:54 left to play. After a timeout, Armstrong Jr. drew a foul and knocked down a pair, making it an 83-76 game with 1:13 remaining.

Cam Gillus missed the front end of a one-and-one, allowing Diggs to draw a foul with 53 seconds left. Diggs knocked down two more free throws, pulling UMBC within five. Gillus missed the front end again, before Armstrong Jr. drilled a stepback triple with 43 seconds on the clock, bringing the Retrievers within two for the first time since the 6:05 mark of the first half.

Bryce Harris hit a tough jumper before the shot clock sounded, giving Howard a four-point lead with 13 ticks on the clock. King blazed to the rim, finishing at the bucket with seven seconds left to make it a one-possession game once more. Isaiah Brown went one-for-two at the line, giving UMBC a chance to tie, but Armstrong Jr.'s game-tying try went wide.

The Retrievers trailed by as many as 13 in the first half before a Cougar Downing bucket in the waning seconds of the half trimmed the deficit to 49-41 at the break.

Armstrong Jr. pulled down six rebounds to go along with his team-high 17 points, while DIggs grabbed eight boards and had two steals to go with 15 points off the bench. Downing had nine points off the bench for the Retrievers.

Season Team Notes

The Dawgs accomplished their best DI conference winning percentage in program history this season (14-2, .875) and their fewest losses.
UMBC won 12 straight contests, the second-longest current streak in the country prior to tonight's defeat.
The Retrievers are 36th in the country with a .750 winning percentage.
UMBC is tied for the third-best single-season conference win improvement (+8) in league history after winning just five AE games last season.
Head Coach Jim Ferry recorded his 400th career win at Maine. He is the first coach in program history to reach that mark.
Ferry has won at least 18 games in three of his five seasons at UMBC and recorded his first 20-win season as a Retriever in 25-26. It's the 7th 20-win season of his career.
The Retrievers went 15-2 at home this season and were a perfect 8-0 in America East regular season games at the 'Peake + three more in the AE Tournament. It's the first time the Retrievers have gone undefeated in the league on their home floor. The 15 wins equals a program record (2007-08).

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