Men's Basketball Falls to UMBC, 68-64, America East Conference Regular-Season Finale

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Baltimore, Md. -- Darryl Proctor had 13 points and made two key free throws with 5.5 seconds remaining to lift UMBC past UAlbany, 68-64, in the America East Conference regular-season finale for both teams on Sunday, March 1 before 3,069 fans at Retriever Activities Center.

With the game tied at 49 apiece, Justin Fry hit a jumper in the circle to put his team in front. Proctor, who added six rebounds, three assists and four steals to his scoring total, then made two free throws. Gilliam, a freshman, later canned a three-point field goal that bounced on the rim and fell in for a 58-53 advantage with 3:59 to play.

UAlbany (14-15, AE 6-10) closed the gap to one basket on three occasions. Tim Ambrose, who had 13 of his 19 points in the second half, canned a bank shot off a drive from left of the lane to slice the deficit to 62-60. After Proctor made two foul shots, Jerel Hastings followed Brian Connelly’s missed reverse layup with a tip-in. UMBC’s Jay Greene, one of three seniors honored prior to the game, then stepped to the line and sank a pair. Ambrose made two free throws with 6.9 seconds left, before Proctor sealed the outcome.

“(Jay) Greene is the best point guard in the league and Proctor is a first-team all-conference player,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team will be seeded seventh for next week’s America East Tournament at SEFCU Arena. “I am happy with the way our team has competed the last three games. They (UMBC) made plays in the stretch and their defense got tighter as we were unable to make any shots.”

UAlbany got off to a good start for the second straight game when Connelly, who had eight points and four rebounds, converted an inside cut for a 9-4 lead. UMBC, last year's America East champion with a 24-win campaign, closed the gap to 14-13 as Gilliam canned a three-pointer from the left wing.

The Great Danes, who shot 56 percent the floor in the period, still led 22-20, but then tallied nine of the game's next 10 points. Hastings, who netted 11 off the bench and has been in double figures in three of the last four games, had consecutive baskets, while Will Harris buried a 3-pointer from right of the key. UAlbany led by as much as 10 before settling for a 34-29 halftime cushion.

UMBC (13-16, AE 7-9) quickly wiped out that lead at the intermission with seven consecutive points. Proctor made a jumper from right of the lane in transition for a 36-34 advantage. Gilliam later connected on a layup after his steal for a 46-42 lead. Connelly’s jump hook in the lane eventually drew his team even at 49-all with 6:42 left. The final period featured seven lead changes and three ties.

“The first four or five minutes were not good offensively,” offered Connelly, whose team has dropped seven of its last eight contests. “We had a bunch of turnovers and made some soft plays. That’s where we really lost it.”

Matt Spadafora, who made 6 of 8 from the field, had 13 points for the Retrievers, whose squad earned the sixth seed for the conference tournament. Harris finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds, his fifth double-double of the season.