For Immediate Release: February 2, 2006
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

BU men's basketball rally falls short at UMBC 78-74
Bearcats' road win streak halted at four games

Box Score

BALTIMORE, Md. - Maryland-Baltimore County (8-12, 4-5 America East) sank seven free throws in the final minute to hold off visiting Binghamton (9-11, 6-3 AE) 78-74 Thursday night from the Retriever Activities Center.

Despite putting up a season-high point total, Binghamton suffered its second straight defeat - on the heels of a program-best six-game win streak. The team's last five games have all been decided in the closing seconds.

The Bearcats trailed for much of the game, but took a 63-62 lead with 7:13 remaining. But BU struggled without a field goal for more than six minutes and the Retrievers pulled ahead for good with a 9-2 run.

Senior guard Andre Heard (Oklahoma City, Okla.) scored 14 of BU's final 21 points and wound up with a game-high 21 points before fouling out in the final five seconds. Heard drained a three-pointer with 39 seconds left to pull Binghamton to within three, 73-70. But UMBC won the intentional foul-free throw "game" - just barely - by converting 5-of-8 free throws in the final 27 seconds. Down 75-72 with 18 seconds left, the Bearcats had one chance to tie but misfired on a three-point attempt, and the Retrievers made three more free throws to seal the win.

"I thought UMBC played very well," head coach Al Walker said. "We couldn't make stops ... I was disappointed with our defense tonight. The bottom line is we're not shooting the ball very well. But I talke my hat off to UMBC. They play very well at home and they were a little bit better than us tonight."

Sophomore point guard Mike Gordon (Plainfield, N.J.) scored 11 points - four of which came in the final 20 seconds. Junior forward Duane James (Miami, Fla.) added 10 points off the bench.

Both teams showing some offensive spark in the opening half, when UMBC shot 57% and Binghamton countered with 55% to forge a 43-43 tie. The 43 points represented BU's highest first-half scoring output of the season.

But the Bearecats misfired on 10-of-11 shots to open the second half and after battling to claim the lead, suffered through the crucial offensive lapse.

Binghamton returns home to take on Maine at 1 p.m. on Sunday.