Late Run, Satchell's Game-Winner Help UMBC Men's Basketball Beat Boston U

After watching Boston University pull ahead in the second half in Monday night’s key America East Conference match-up, the UMBC men's basketball team clawed its way back and retook the lead with 53.9 seconds remaining on a lay-up by Adrian Satchell.

The Retrievers then buckled down on defense, forcing the Terriers to take long shots from beyond the arc. Satchell made a pair of free throws in the closing seconds, capping an 11-0 run, and UMBC escaped with a 71-67 victory before an announced 1,237 at RAC Arena.

“We really did a good job,” UMBC coach Randy Monroe said. “We stayed within ourselves and really played good basketball. We got some key stops, which was very important for us. It was a really good one and shows you what this group can do when we settle in.”

Chris De La Rosa, who is averaging 22.8 points per game against conference opponents, finished with 23 points. Satchell had 11 and Justin Fry and Laurence Jolicoeur each had 10.

Boston's John Holland, who is the conference’s co-Player of the Week, scored 14 of his 24 points in the first half. Darryl Partin had 18 points and Matt Griffin added 15 for Boston.

A pair of free throws by Fry tied the game at 67 with 1:12 remaining. After Boston’s Jeff Pelage missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw, Satchell gave UMBC the lead on a driving lay-up and then clinched the game with free throws.

“I was just staying focused,” Satchell said. “We needed to make sure we got rebounds. We got some key stops in the second half.”

UMBC (2-16, 1-4 America East) got off to a quick start, opening an 8-2 lead on five consecutive points by De La Rosa. Terriers coach Patrick Chambers quickly called a timeout to settle his team, which made just one of its first 12 field goal attempts.

A 3-pointer by Jamar Wertz increased the lead to 16-3 midway through the first half. The Terriers then went on an 11-2 run and cut the deficit to four on a 3-pointer by Holland.

Another 3-pointer by Wertz was answered by Partin, but UMBC still led 31-30 at the break. The Retrievers made 7 of 13 3-point attempts (53.8 percent) and never trailed in the first half.

De La Rosa scored 11 points by going 4 of 8 from the field. The Terriers (8-11, 3-2) managed to keep the game tight by committing just one turnover.

“We just wanted to make sure they did not get good shots,” De La Rosa said. “And we wanted to limit their second chance rebounds. It was confidence.”

UMBC has struggled in the second half this season and were outscored by 53 points in recent losses to Maine, Binghamton and Vermont.

The Retrievers also were not able to hold the lead against Boston.

A 3-pointer by Holland gave the Terriers their first lead, 37-35 with 16:53 left in the game. Boston continued to play up-tempo, forcing UMBC to find effective match-ups.

Six consecutive points by Partin increased the lead to 48-44 with 10 minutes remaining. The Retrievers stayed close behind De La Rosa's strong play, but each time UMBC had the opportunity to retake the lead, Boston answered with a clutch field goal.

A 3-pointer by Griffin gave the Terriers a five-point cushion with 7:45 left. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Griffin and Partin increased Boston’s lead to 61-53, forcing Monroe to call a timeout. Boston made 7 of 17 3-point attempts in the second half, whereas UMBC was just of 3 of 8.

Still, UMBC ended the game on an 11-0 run and made the stops when they were needed most.

“The one thing I really like about this group is they don’t quit,” Monroe said. “Things have not been going that well for us, but they have been in the gym on their own.”