UMBC

Baltimore, Md.—Kenny Adeleke’s tip-in at the buzzer gave visiting Harford (6-9, 2-3 America East) a stunning 74-73 win over UMBC at the RAC Arena.

The Hawks snapped a five-game losing streak and won for the first time in three tries at UMBC. The Retrievers lost their third straight and second in a row at home.

UMBC had numerous chances to put the game away, but the final sequence was the toughest to take. Junior Mike Housman hit the second of two free throw attempts to give UMBC a 73-72 lead with 2.8 seconds remaining. After a Hawk time-out, their long lead pass for Adeleke was overthrown, but UMBC’s John Zito inadvertently deflected the ball as it was headed out of bounds with 0.6 seconds remaining. With the ball now underneath the Hartford basket, guard Charles Ford lobbed the inbounds pass to the tallest man on the court, and Adeleke leaped and laid it in at the horn.

UMBC freshman guard Jay Greene hit two free throws with 1:36 remaining to give UMBC a 72-66 advantage with 1:36 remaining. But Baltimore native Paris Carter hit a three-point field goal from the right corner with 1:14 remaining, and after Greene missed both ends of a two-shot free throw attempt, Carter hit from the same spot against the zone to tie the game at 72-all with 38 seconds remaining.

Carter, who entered the game averaging 4.5 points per game and had a previous season high of 12 points, hit 21 of his game-high 25 points in the second half. He made 10 of 17 shots, including five of nine from behind the arc, all in the final 20 minutes. Adeleke, the leading scorer and rebounder in the league, contributed 23 points and 13 rebounds. Reserve Brian Glowiak burned the UMBC zone defense, hitting four of eight from behind the arc for 13 points.

Sophomore guard Brian Hodges led UMBC with 19 points, while Zito posted his fourth career double-double with 15 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Junior guard Chris Pugh scored all 10 of his points in the second half and added four assists.

The Retrievers came out strong, building a 25-11 lead with 5:54 to play in the first half. But with Adeleke leading the charge, Hartford went on a 15-0 run and came back to lead, 29-27 at intermission.  

Both teams committed 13 first half turnovers and UMBC had 14 assists and 17 give-aways in the game. They are now 0-7 when they have more turnovers than helpers this season.

UMBC has the week off until hosting Maine next Sunday at the RAC Arena.