UMBC

Norfolk, Va.- Host Norfolk State, a team which reached the third round of the NCAA Championship a year ago, hit 54 percent from the floor and 9-of-15 from behind the arc and defeated UMBC, 83-66 at Echols Hall in the first meeting between the two schools.

UMBC senior guard Ryan Cook (Laurel, Md./Pallotti) led the visitors with 22 points, scoring 20 or more for the fifth time this season.

But UMBC, which played a double-overtime game vs. American on Thursday, misfired on all 16 attempts from behind the arc and could not keep pace with the Spartans.

NSU (6-5) junior guard Malcolm Hawkins scored 14 of his team-high 20 points in the first half.

The Spartans came out blazing hot in the first half, hitting 7-of-9 three-point attempts, led by Hawkins, who buried 3-of-4. Conversely, UMBC misfired on 21 of 29 attempts from the floor (27.6%) and were assisted by 14 Norfolk fouls, which resulted in 13 (of 19) Retriever free throws.

UMBC had an early 3-2, but the Spartans went on a 16-4 run and led,18-7, with 12:33 to play in the first half. NSU extended the margin to 36-20 with 4:53 to play in the half before the Retrievers shaved the deficit to 42-29 at the break.

The Retrievers battled back and nearly halved the deficit, getting to within 55-48 on a Cook short bank shot with 11:23 remaining. But after a time-out, NSU’s Rob Johnson hit a trey, starting a 11-2 run which put the hosts ahead, 66-50 with 8:27 remaining.

UMBC (2-8) made one more push, getting to within 70-60 on a Chase Plummer (Plainfield, N.J./St. Patrick) layup with 4:39 to play, but Johnson again responded with a field goal and the Retrievers could not cut into the deficit.

Junior post Brett Roseboro (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) scored in double figures for the fifth consecutive game, scoring 12 points. Local product and reserve guard Jamar Wertz (Suffolk, Va./King’s Fork), who had dozens of friends and family in the stands, gave UMBC a spark with 10 points. Plummer posted a season-high 14 rebounds.

Johnson had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds for NSU.

UMBC outrebounded the hosts, 43-37 and had 20 second-chance points to 4 for Norfolk State.