UMBC

Baltimore, Md.—Four players scored in double figures as the UMBC men’s basketball team scorched visiting Lafayette, 86-51, before 2,213 at the RAC Arena.

The 35-point win was the second largest margin of victory over a Division I foe in UMBC’s 21-year NCAA Division I history. Only an 85-49 win over Fairleigh Dickinson in 2000 was greater. The win was the fourth largest in the 39-year history of intercollegiate basketball at UMBC.

The Retrievers won their second straight game and improved to 2-2 overall, while Lafayette dropped their fourth straight and fell to 1-4.

Sophomore point guard Jay Greene led the way with a career-high 18 points on a career-best six three-point field goals. He also added eight assists. Sophomore wing guard Thomas Young posted a career-high 16 points, 14 of which were scored in a 50-point Retriever second half. Senior guard Chris Pugh nearly posted his second straight double-double, as he tied a career-best with five three-point field goals and amassed 17 points and nine rebounds and senior forward Mike Housman added 14 points and nine caroms, hitting all eight shots from the free throw line.

Neither team scored in the first 3:13 of play, but both clubs were outstanding from behind the arc in the first 20 minutes. The Retrievers took a 21-5 lead with five three-point field goals in a span of 6:05 as Pugh nailed three and Greene knocked home a pair. Lafayette would close within 31-25 on a Paul Cummins layup with 1:29 to play, but a layup by Housman and Pugh’s long three-pointer at the halftime horn gave UMBC a 36-25 halftime edge.

Pugh and Greene, who was named America East Marlow Sports Player of the Game, combined to hit eight of 13 shots from behind the arc in the first half.

The Leopards were within 53-44 with 12:25 to play, but UMBC closed the contest on a run of 33-7. Greene started the run with his final long-distance shot of the night and junior forward Chris Seaborn punctuated it with a slam dunk to put the hosts ahead, 69-46 with 6:50 remaining.

UMBC hit 12 of 23 shots from behind the arc, falling one shy of a school record for three-point field goals. The Retrievers were 32 of 55 overall, hitting at a 58.2 percent clip after entering the game at 35.4 percent. UMBC outrebounded their guests, 39-17, limited the Leopards to four offensive rebounds.

Lafayette was led by junior swingman Matt Betley, who tied Greene for game honors with 18 points.

The Retrievers take to the road to face defending NIT champion Michigan in Ann Arbor on Saturday.