UMBC

Brian Hodges is averaging 17.7 ppg in his last seven outings.

Baltimore, Md.—Senior forward John Zito shook off a recent slump to lead UMBC with 19 points as the Retrievers (8-12, 4-5 America East) edged second-place Binghamton (9-11, 6-3), 78-74, at the RAC Arena.

Sophomore guard Brian Hodges stayed hot, adding 17, and senior forward Jerrell Dinkins scored 15 points and added nine rebounds as UMBC improved to 7-3 at home this season.

“I thought it was a gut-check win for our guys,” head coach Randy Monroe said. “We beat a very good basketball team and showed tonight on any given night we can play with anybody.”

Bearcat senior guard Andre Heard led all scorers with 21 points, scoring 16 of his team’s 31 second half points. After winning six straight games, including their last three by a total of four points, the Bearcats have dropped the last two games by a combined five points.

Zito, whose scoring average had dipped from 17.2 ppg two weeks ago to 13.6 ppg entering tonight’s game, scored 14 first half points as UMBC would build a 24-15 lead midway through the half. But Binghamton hit five of 10 from behind the arc in the first 20 minutes and knotted the contest at 43-all at intermission.

UMBC again would surge out to an advantage in the second half, using an early 11-2 run to go ahead, 56-47 after a Dinkins layup with 12:17 remaining. But again the Bearcats rallied, and Ian Milne’s free throw capped a 16-6 run to put the visitors ahead, 63-62, with 7:13 remaining. But a three-point play by Zito and a tough inside jumper by Hodges gave UMBC the lead for good at 67-63 with 2:37 remaining.

Binghamton’s lone three-pointer of the half (1/14), by Heard with 41 seconds left, halved a UMBC six-point lead to 73-70. Dinkins and freshman guard Jay Greene sandwiched free throws around a put-back bucket by Bearcat guard Mike Gordon (75-72) , and Binghamton had chance to tie when Milne’s three-pointer went awry with 11 seconds left and Hodges hit three of four free throws in the final ten seconds to give UMBC the win.

Hodges has now scored in double figures in seven straight games and nine of the last ten and is averaging 17.7 ppg in that span. He beat the Bearcats with a three-point goal in the final second at the RAC Arena last season and averages 14.7 ppg in three career games vs. Binghamton.

Mike Housman added ten points and UMBC improved to 6-0 when the junior forward scores in double figures.

UMBC is only one game out of third place in the conference and will try to avenge an earlier loss when they travel to New Hampshire on Super Bowl Sunday.