UMBC

Baltimore, Md.—Stony Brook junior guard Ricky Lucas scored a game-high 21 points as the visiting Seawolves (8-15, 3-8 America East) defeated UMBC (9-15, 5-6), 56-39 before a disappointed crowd of 2,237 at the RAC Arena.

Lucas was Stony Brook’s America East Player of the Game, while Brian Hodges scored 14 points and earned the honor for UMBC.

Stony Brook snapped a four-game losing streak with the victory and won for the first time at the RAC Arena, evening the all-time series at 5-5. UMBC lost its second straight and has averaged just 48.3 ppg in its last four games.

The Seawolves, who lost 66-65 at the buzzer at Binghamton on Wednesday, never trailed, going out to an 11-2 lead on a Mike Popoko three-pointer at the 13:14 mark of the first half. They built the margin to 22-9 on a steal and fast break lay-up by Mitchell Beauford with three mintues to go in the half and settled for a 22-13 halftime advantage.

UMBC hit only six of 20 shots from the floor, one of nine from behind the arc and did not go to the free throw line. They also committed nine first half turnovers.

It got no better in the second half for UMBC, as the Seawolves crashed the boards for 11 offensive rebounds and built the lead to as many as 25 points on two occasions.

SBU’s Mitchell Beauford was the only other player in double figures as he scored 12 points and added three steals. Hodges made just five of 14 shots, but did hit four of nine from behind the arc.

UMBC returns to action to take on first-place Vermont in Burlington on Thursday, Feb. 8.