UMBC

Baltimore, Md.—Senior forward Mike Housman scored a season high 20 points and junior guard Brian Hodges scored all 19 of his points in the second half as UMBC (10-17, 6-8) edged Boston University (11-15, 8-6), 67-63 before 2,392 fans at the RAC Arena.

Housman did not accompany the team to Hartford due to illness. It was his first missed game after playing in 82 in a row. Guard Chris Pugh and Housman, UMBC’s America East Player of the Game, were honored before the game in “Senior Day” ceremonies. 

The Terriers, who had won two straight, were led by freshman guard Corey Lowe, who totaled 19 points and was BU’s America East Player of the Game. Freshman reserve wing Carlos Strong added 15 points and senior post Omari Peterkin added 13.

Housman did his damage early, scoring 15 first half points. But the visiting Terriers led, 32-31 at intermission and forged three seven-point leads in the second half. Hodges helped UMBC fight back and his jumper with 10:06 remaining gave the Retrievers a brief 48-47 lead. With the game tied at 59-all, Hodges hit a jumper with 3:34 to go, then swished a fall-away three-pointer from the right wing to give the Retrievers a 64-59 advantage with 1:32 to play.

Boston had two shots in the final 21 seconds to re-take the lead or tie the game. Freshman guard Corey Lowe hit a wide open three-pointer to trim the lead to 64-62 with 47 seconds left and on UMBC’s next possession, guard Jay Greene’s pass hit Justin Fry in the back and Terrier wing Carlos Strong came up with the steal. But Strong missed a three-pointer with 21 seconds to play and Housman hit both ends of a one-and-one after grabbing the rebound with 19 seconds left to put UMBC on top 66-62.

Lowe then hit the first of two free throws with 9.7 seconds remaining and grabbed his own rebound in a scramble. He forced a desperation three-pointer from the right corner which was well short and Housman gathered the rebound. He hit the first of two free throws and the long rebound on the miss was gathered in by Greene to secure the win for UMBC.

The win snaps a four-game losing streak for UMBC, in which the Retrievers had shot a conbined 33.2% from the floor. UMBC hit 25 of 50 shots vs. the Terriers, including 14 of 25 in the second half. UMBC only committed seven turnovers.

Housman scored his career high of 24 points and added the game-winning basket vs. the Terriers in last season’s 65-64 overtime win. He led the team with 16 points in the Terriers’ 59-53 win in Boston on January 21.

UMBC’s six conference wins is the most in their four years of America East play. The Retrievers play their final home game of the season vs. Maine on Thursday.