UMBC

Senior guard Mike Ames scored a season-high 24 points as Delaware (4-1) shook off a dreadful start to overtake host UMBC (2-2), 74-62, in a non-conference contest.

The Blue Hens missed their first eleven field goal attempts and committed five early turnovers as UMBC went out to a 13-2 lead at the 13:15 mark of the first half. But then the Hens turned up the defensive intensity and forced eight UMBC turnovers in the final 11:27 of the half and UMBC would hit just 4 of 13 field goals in the same span. UD went on a 25-11 run to end the half, keyed offensively by Ames (9 points), junior point guard Mike Slattery (6 points) and junior forward David Lunn (8 points).

Leading 27-24 at intermission, the Hens took advantage of some poor UMBC free throw shooting and 11 points by Ames in a five-minutes span in the second half to build a 53-39 lead with 6:55 remaining. UMBC would fight back, outscoring Delaware, 16-5 to cut the deficit to 60-55 on a short jumper by Cory McJimson with 2:22 to play. But Slattery, a 37.5% free throw shooter entering the contest, hit both ends of a one-and-one on the next possession, and then buried 6 of his next 8 as the Hens built the lead back into double digits.

John Zito led UMBC with 15 points, hitting 6 of 9 from the floor, but only converted on 3 of 9 from the free throw line. Cory McJimson added 12 points, and Kareem Washington and Rob Gogerty each had 10. Gogerty added 5 assists and 4 steals, as the Retrievers garnered a season-high 10 thefts. Sophomore forward Seth Davis added a team-high 9 rebounds, to go with 8 points and 4 blocked shots.