UMBC

Baltimore, Md.—For the second time in four days, the UMBC men’s basketball team pulled out a thriller, today defeating visiting Binghamton, 51-48 before 1,812 fans at the RAC Arena.

With the score tied at 48-all, forward Mike Housman stole a inbounds pass under the Bearcat basket with 4.4 seconds left and was fouled driving to the bucket with 2.3 remaining.  The senior calmly sank both free throw attempts and, after a time-out, Binghamton threw a three-quarter court pass that went out of bounds on the right sideline. UMBC’s Uwem Eshietedoho was fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass with 1.1 seconds to play and hit the first of two free throws. After his second free throw attempt missed, a desperation attempt by the Bearcats was well short of the target.

UMBC improves to 9-13 overall and 5-4 in the conference, while Binghamton falls to 9-12, 2-7. Housman was the Retrievers’ America East Player of the Game with a team-high 17 points, while junior guard Mike Gordon earned the honor for the visitors also posting 17 points.

On Thursday, it was UMBC senior Chris Pugh hitting a three-point field goal with 2.2 seconds remaining to give the host Retrievers a 45-44 win over New Hampshire.

The game was tied at 24-all at halftime as both squads played suffocating defense. The Bearcats scored the first eight points of the second frame and held the lead for the majority of the half. But UMBC chipped away and took its first lead of the half at 43-42 on a pair of free throws by Thomas Young with 4:04 remaining.

After Binghamton crept back in front on a steal and driving layup by Gordon, UMBC sophomore guard Jay Greene got the Retrievers a 48-47 advantage with a  three-pointer from the top of the key with 53 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, Greene fouled Binghamton’s Steve Proctor at the very end of the shot clock and the Bearcat senior made one of two free throws to tie the score at 48-all with 17 seconds left.

UMBC tried to go for the score, but Greene committed a turnover driving the left baseline with 4.4 seconds left. But the Retrievers clamped down on the inbounds play and Housman was the beneficiary of the Binghamton miscue.

“Chris was denying his man in the corner and the five-second count was on,” Housman said. “My man did not come strong to the ball, so I was able to make the play, power up and draw the foul. We have been working on free throws in game-winning situations, so it wasn’t a big deal to knock two down.”

Thomas Young was the only other Retriever in double figures with 13 points as he hit seven of eight from the free throw line. UMBC shot just 36.4% from the floor and committed 20 turnovers, but outrebounded Binghamton, 34-26 and forced 19 Bearcat miscues.

Notes: The 5-4 conference mark is the best after nine games in the four-year history of UMBC in the America East Conference and ties UMBC’s mark for overall America East wins (five each in 2002-03, 2004-05 and 2005-06)… the Retrievers have now won five times (5-11) when trailing or tied at halftime this season… after not scoring in double figures for nine straight games, Housman has led UMBC in each of the last three games, averaging 15.0 ppg in that span… the Retrievers and Bearcats have each won four in the all-time series… Binghamton won the first meeting at the RAC Arena by three points and UMBC has won the last three by two points, four points and three points respectively… the two teams each shot over 50 percent in UMBC’s 73-71 win in Vestal, N.Y. on Jan. 3. … UMBC faces defending champion Albany (14-7, 7-2 A. East) in Albany, N.Y. on Wednesday.