UMBC

Santa Clara's Jim Howell blocked Kareem Washington's game-winning attempt from short range, as Santa Clara (5-3) once again survived UMBC, 55-54, before 2,213 at the RAC Arena. The Retirevers have dropped three straight and fall to 3-3 on the season. The game featured 14 lead changes and 7 ties and was reminiscent of last year's 59-58 SCU win when UMBC lost a ten-point second half lead. Trailing, 32-31 with 15:43 remaining, the Retrievers went on a 8-0 run, which featured three breakaway layups by Justin Wilson and a breakaway dunk by Kareem Washington. UMBC still led by seven at 43-36 with 11:50 to play, when the visitors countereed with a 12-0 surge capped by a Brandon Rohde layup to go ahead, 48-43, with 7:08 to play. SCU led by 54-48 with 3:06 to play when UMBC made its final run. Baskets by Andrew Feeley, Washington and P.J. Hatcher, the latter with 11.4 seconds to play, cut the deficit to 55-54. After UMBC forced a turnover on the inbounds play, the Retrievers had two chances, but Wilson's drive was slapped out of bounds with 3.9 seconds left and Washington's step in to the block off the ensuing play was rejected by Howell. Washington led UMBC with 16 points, hitting 4 of 9 from three-point range. Wilson added 13 and Hatcher 11, but UMBC shot just 34.5% (20/58) from the floor and 9 of 17 from the charity stripe.The Retrievers return to action on Monday when they travel down I-95 to take on defending national champion Maryland.