Score: UAlbany 62, UMBC 66
 
Location: Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena| Baltimore, Md.
 
Records: UAlbany (10-18, 6-7 America East), UMBC (18-8, 12-2 America East) 
 
Short Story: The University at Albany men's basketball team fell to UMBC in Baltimore, Maryland Saturday evening by a narrow 66-62 margin.
 
Coach Killings: ""It was a hard-fought game. I think we're getting mentally and physically tougher. We played really well in the first half; they made a run, and we answered it. We just needed one more possession. Unfortunately, we turned the ball over and missed a box out.
It comes down to winning plays at the end. The message to the team was simple, We have to learn from this. If you want to win late in the season, these are the types of games you're going to be in, one or two-possession games. In those moments, you have to stay focused and do your job."
 
Key Stats: 

• Tarique Foster led the Great Danes with 17 points, shooting 5-of-6 from three-point range.
• Amir Lindsey added 15 points, while Okechukwu Okeke finished with 14.
• Okeke also led the team with eight rebounds and three steals.
• Jaden Kempson paced UAlbany with three assists.
• As a team, UAlbany shot 26-of-50 (52.0%) from the field, 7-of-17 (41.2%) from three, and 3-of-4 (75.0%) from the free-throw line.
• UMBC shot 24-of-57 (42.1%) from the field, 8-of-20 (40.0%) from three-point range, and 10-of-13 (76.9%) from the free-throw line.

How it Happened: 

• The Retrievers opened the scoring with a three-pointer, but UAlbany answered with seven straight points to take a 7-3 lead, highlighted by two Okeke layups
• UMBC responded with an 8-0 run to reclaim the lead, 11-7.
• Trailing 15-11, Foster knocked down three consecutive three-pointers, putting the Great Danes back in front, 20-18, with 9:26 remaining in the first half.
• A three from Jose Roberto Tanchyn gave UMBC its final lead of the half, but UAlbany closed on a 12-7 run. Five different Great Danes scored during the stretch, and the team carried a 32-28 advantage into halftime.
• Okeke opened the second half with a basket before UMBC used an 18-4 run to take control, leading 46-38 with 12:39 to play.
• A steal and dunk by Okeke sparked an 8-2 UAlbany run, tying the game at 48-48 with just over eight minutes remaining.
• UMBC answered again, building a 58-52 lead as Ace Valentine scored four during the stretch.
• Kempson drained a three-pointer with 3:51 left to make it a one-possession game.
• The Great Danes pulled within two, 64-62, after Lindsey scored seven straight points, but UMBC held on for a 66-62 victory.

UP NEXT: UAlbany's men's basketball program next hosts Maine on Thursday, February 26^th at 6:30pm in Broadview Center in Albany, N.Y.
 
Social Central:  Stay up to date with UAlbany men's basketball by following the team on X (@UAlbanyMBB), Instagram (@ualbany_mbb), and the team's official Facebook (UAlbany Men's Basketball) for all of the latest news and highlights throughout the year.