BANGOR, Maine – Four consecutive UMBC 3-pointers over the final 3:11 of regulation proved to be just enough, as the Retrievers escaped the Cross Insurance Center with a 67-66 win over Maine on Sunday afternoon in Bangor.
 
After two made UMBC free throws, the Black Bears (5-20, 3-7 AE) trailed the Retrievers (15-10, 7-3 AE) 67-61 with 13 seconds remaining in the second half. Dennis Ashley had a shot blocked, but quickly grabbed the rebound and threw up a 3-pointer, sinking the shot with five seconds remaining. Vincent Eze stole the ensuing Retriever inbound, laying in two points with just over two seconds remaining.
 
The Black Bears looked to have fouled the Retrievers in the closing seconds, but no foul call was given, as UMBC took the thrilling contest by a score of 67-66.
 
Isaiah White led the Black Bears with 17 points (7-14 FG, 3-7 3PT), grabbing seven of Maine's 34 caroms. Andrew Fleming knocked down 6-of-10 from the field for 15 points, bringing down a team-high eight rebounds in 40 minutes played.
 
Sergio El Darwich scored 11 points and dished a career-high 10 assists in the contest, becoming the first Black Bear to tally 10-plus assists in a single game since Xavier Pollard distributed 12 helpers against Siena on Nov. 25, 2012. Pollard's overall performance against the Saints that day also marked the last time a Maine player achieved a double-double on points and assists.
 
Eze made 4-of-7 attempts from the floor during the contest, for 10 points, while bringing down five boards. Off the bench, Ashley scored seven points, on the clutch triple and going 4-for-4 from the charity stripe.
 
Maine built an early 19-11 advantage, as the Black Bears started the contest hot by making 8-of-10 from the field with 11:51 remaining. The Retrievers quickly cut the Maine edge to just one after a 7-0 run. UMBC took its second lead of the game at 28-27 with 2:06 left in the half, but the two squads would head into the locker room tied at 32-32. El Darwich already had eight assists at the half, while White poured in 12 points after 20 minutes.
 
The Black Bears and Retrievers went back-and-forth on the scoreboard to start the second half until Maine built a seven-point lead at 42-35 with 14:38 remaining. UMBC responded with a 14-6 charge to tie the contest up at 49-49 with 8:25 on the clock.
 
After baskets were traded, UMBC sunk 3-pointers on four-consecutive possessions, as K.J. Jackson and Ricky Council II both nailed one each and Joe Sherburne drained the other two to give UMBC a 4-point lead at 65-61 with 59 seconds left. Before the Retrievers went on the 3-point shooting frenzy, Maine held UMBC to shoot just 2-of-12 on long range shots.
 
The Black Bears scored five points over the final five seconds of game clock on the Ashley trey and Eze layup, but ran out of time, falling to UMBC 67-66.
 
Jackson totaled a game-high 22 points, while Sherburne recorded 21 points (9-15 FG), nearing a double-double with nine boards for the Retrievers. Council II added 14 points for the defending America East champs.
 
Maine looks to avenge an earlier loss this season to Hartford on Wednesday at Chase Family Arena. The opening tip is set for 7:00 p.m. in West Hartford. Maine returns home to the Cross Insurance Center on Sunday, Feb. 17 in hopes of completing a season-sweep of UAlbany. The tip against the Great Danes is set for a 1:00 p.m. in Bangor. For tickets, visit the Cross Insurance Center box office, or head to ticketmaster.com.
 
-UMaine-