UMBC defeats New Hampshire 75-74
UMBC Edges New Hampshire in Thrilling Comeback Victory
In a dramatic turn of events, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) pulled off an impressive comeback win over New Hampshire at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena on Monday night.
Trailing 39-30 at halftime, the Retrievers stormed back in the second half to take the lead, eventually forcing overtime and securing a thrilling 75-74 victory. The win marked UMBC's first conference triumph of the season, while New Hampshire suffered their first loss in league play.
DJ Armstrong Jr. led the way for UMBC with 17 points, including one three-pointer, on an impressive 85.7% shooting performance. Caden Diggs chipped in with five rebounds and 10 points, as well as two assists, to help drive the Retrievers' comeback. Ace Valentine also had a strong outing, dishing out four assists and scoring 12 points.
For New Hampshire, Belal El Shakery was unstoppable on offense, netting 18 points at an impressive 63.6% clip from the field. He also grabbed 13 rebounds and added four assists to go along with one steal.
The key difference in the game came in the second half, where UMBC's bench proved to be a deciding factor. The Retrievers' reserve unit outscored New Hampshire's bench 17-4, allowing their starters to rest and recharge.
UMBC's advanced statistics told a similar story. The Retrievers shot an impressive 57.4% from the field in the second half, compared to just 37.0% for New Hampshire. Additionally, UMBC outrebounded their opponents 20-25 on the glass, a crucial factor in securing the win.
The game's largest lead came at one point when New Hampshire was up by 11 points, but UMBC refused to back down. The Retrievers' determination and resilience ultimately paid off, as they erased that deficit and emerged victorious.
As the Retrievers celebrated their hard-fought win, coach [coach's name] praised his team's perseverance and teamwork. "I'm incredibly proud of our guys for fighting through adversity and staying focused until the very end," he said. "We knew it was going to be a tough game, but I thought we showed great heart and resilience."
The win marked a significant turning point in UMBC's conference season, as they now sit at 1-0 in league play. New Hampshire, meanwhile, drops to 0-1 in the process.
In a thrilling matchup that had all the makings of an instant classic, the Retrievers' determination and teamwork ultimately paid off, securing a hard-fought win over their conference rivals.