UMBC

Rashad Bilal scored all of his points in the final 7:13 of the game

Baltimore, MD—Senior guard Rob Gogerty scored a season high 17 points as host UMBC (6-6, 1-2 America East) rallied for a 74-67 victory over Stony Brook (5-7, 0-3 America East) in a league match-up.

The win by UMBC snapped a seven-game league losing streak which extended back to last season. The Retrievers have won four of five games overall, while Stony Brook has dropped three of four.

The visiting Seawolves appeared to have the game in hand as they built a 51-38 advantage with 12:21 to play. But Gogerty hit a three-pointer from the corner and a 2-2-1 press by UMBC forced four Stony Brook turnovers as the Retrievers went on a 18-2 surge over the next five minutes and took a 56-53 lead with 7:13 to play. After Stony Brook tied the game at 57-all on a pair of Bobby Santiago free throws, UMBC freshman Rashad Bilal gave UMBC the lead for good on a driving layup with 3:28 to play. Stony Brook’s Mike Popoko made one of two free throws on the next possession, but Gogerty hit another three-pointer and, after a Santiago miss from the floor, Bilal hit a jumper to put UMBC ahead, 64-58 with 1:06 to play.

The game then became a free throw shooting contest, and the Retrievers, shooting a feeble 57.5% from the line coming into the game, made 10 of 12 in the final 55 seconds to hold off Stony Brook. UMBC hit 23 of 27 shots from the line, a mark of 85.2% for the contest.

Gogerty hit 5 of 10 from the floor, and 3 of 5 from behind the arc, after not hitting a three in his last four outings. With his four assists, he becomes the ninth player in school history to record 300 (302) career assists. Freshman guard Brian Hodges added 12 points, while Bilal and fellow reserve sophomore forward Mike Housman added 10 apiece.

Stony Brook also had four players in double figures, lead by freshman guard Antwan Hardy, who tallied 16 points, and backcourt mate Santiago added 15. Baltimore native Mike Popoko and reserve forward Mike Orfini added 12 points each. The Seawolves eleven second half turnovers, while UMBC only had four miscues in the final 20 minutes.

UMBC’s last league win also occured vs. Stony Brook on February 8, 2004.