UMBC

State College, Pa.—Sophomore guard Chris De La Rosa (Washington Heights, N.Y.) kept UMBC in striking distance, scoring eight of his 10 points in the first half, but a depleted Retriever team fell at Penn State, 58-42.

Freshman wing Brian Neller (Red Bank, N.J.) also scored 10 points for UMBC and added three steals in a season-high 25-minute effort. De La Rosa, fourth in the nation in assists per game, added six assists, four steals and played brilliant defense on Penn State standout guard Talor Battle.

Junior post Robbie Jackson (Aberdeen, Md.) did not accompany the team as he suffered an ankle injury on Saturday at Toledo. Early in the first half, UMBC leading scorer Chauncey Gilliam (Columbia, Md.) suffered an ankle injury and did not return.

Jeff Brooks led Penn State with 14 points and Andrew Jones added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Battle, who entered the game averaging 18.6 points per game, was held to seven points.

UMBC took an 18-16lead on a fast break layup by De La Rosa with 7:39 remaining in the first half. The Retrievers led, 23-21, on another De La Rosa field goal before Penn State scored the final six points of the half to take a 27-23 halftime advantage.

UMBC was outscored, 14-4, to open the second half and the Nittany Lions were not threatened down the stretch.

The Retrievers return home for the lone contest at the RAC Arena in December as they host Rider on Saturday.