UMBC

Cory McJimson scored 11 points as the UMBC starting frontcourt tallied 35 points.

Rob Gogerty had 8 assists and 1 turnover, giving him 19 helpers and 1 miscue in UMBC's 3-game winning streak.

Newark, DE—Freshman guard Brian Hodges sparked a determined UMBC (5-5) effort with a season high 16 points as the Retrievers defeated host Delaware (4-7), 66-56, in the Retrievers’ final non-conference game of the season.

UMBC has won three straight games for the first time since opening the 2002-03 season at 3-0. Moreover, it was the Retrievers’ first win on the road since defeating New Hampshire, 60-56, on January 21, 2004, a span of nine straight road setbacks.

The Retrievers’ aggressive defense held Delaware to 19 first half points, the Blue Hens’ second-lowest home output in a half since the Bob Carpenter Center opened in 1992-93. Hodges, senior center Andrew Feeley, and junior forward Cory McJimson had 6 points apiece in the first stanza to give UMBC a 26-19 halftime lead.

But the Blue Hens used a 11-2 run early in the second half to take the lead—first at 41-40 with 10:10 remaining and for the last time at 46-44 with 8:25 to play. The Retrievers tied it on a Cory McJimson lay-in with 7:10 to play, and took the lead for good at 49-46 with 6:31 left as Hodges buried a three-pointer from the wing after a McJimson steal. With UMBC leading, 53-50, Hodges hit another shot from behind the arc with 3:19 to play, starting an 8-0 Retriever run which ended on a pair McJimson free throws to give the visitors a comfortable 61-50 advantage with 59 seconds to play.

Hodges hit 4 of 5 shots from behind the arc and 5 of 6 from the floor overall to lead four Retrievers in double figures. Feeley was solid with 13 points and 8 rebounds, while forwards McJimson and John Zito added 11 points each. Senior guard Rob Gogerty continued his flawless guard play, with 8 points, 8 assists and just 1 turnover.

The Retrievers shot a season high 53.3% (24/45) from the floor, including converting on 14 of 22 shots in the second half. For the fourth time in the last five games, UMBC held their opponent to less than 38% shooting, as Delaware managed to hit just 18 of 51 shots (35.3%).

The five non-league wins for UMBC is the most since the 1997-98 Retrievers won seven non-conference games.  The win was UMBC’s first-ever at Delaware and narrowed UD’s series lead to 7-2.