Men’s Basketball Blows Late Lead in Loss to UMBC
- theaspeic
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
By Gabriel Kitt & Carter Schum | February 2, 2026
On Saturday, Jan. 31 the University at Albany Men’s Basketball team fell 68-65 to the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers.
“Our discipline just killed us in the end,” said head men’s basketball coach Dwyane Killings of his team's fourth straight loss.
The game would swing in favor of the Great Danes early, as 3-pointers from Amir Lindsey and Issac Abidde gave UAlbany a 6-0 run in the first 2:30 of the game.
This early momentum stayed for the Great Danes in the early part of the first half, as they were up 9-2 with 15:02 remaining in the opening stanza.
The game stayed close, with UAlbany leading 12-7, 8:30 into the game. The Great Danes had scored no 2-point baskets at this point in the game, choosing to prioritize the long ball.
Following this, UMBC hit two free throws, just for UAlbany to go on a 9-3 run to lead 21-12 with nine minutes left in the first half.
The Retrievers would draw a bit closer in the next portion of the first half. However, the Great Danes were up 25-18 at the 5:42 mark.
UAlbany went on a pointless streak for over four minutes, but would still hold a 25-23 lead with 1:22 left in the first half.
Okechukwu Okeke would complete a 3-point play that would give the Great Danes a 28-27 lead at the halfway point, topping the scoring charts in the first half with 11.
Issac Abidde would be right behind him with 9 points, all of which came via 3-pointers. UAlbany controlled the battle on the glass in the first half, leading in rebounds 22-17.
UAlbany would score the first 4 points of the half, followed by UMBC scoring 8 straight points to take their first lead of the game as Ace Valentine would hit a 3-point shot to give UMBC a 35-32 lead 2:51 in the first half.
This lead would increase, as with 13:13 left to play, the Retrievers would take their largest lead of the game, 43-39, thanks to an impressive 3-point play from Valentine, who was up to 11 points.
This lead was cut only slightly midway into the second half, as the scoreboard read 47-45 in favor of UMBC with 11:22 left to play in the game.
With 8:08 left in the game, the Great Danes reclaimed their lead via a Miles Rose 3-point shot to go up 52-51.
UAlbany would go on a 5-0 run to take a 61-55 lead with 4:25 left to play in the 2nd half. This stretch was highlighted by a flying dunk from Ma’kye Taylor, which sent the crowd of 2,201 to its feet.
The Retrievers would not back down however, as with 2:35 remaining, they would tie the game 63-63.
With 2:08 left, the Great Danes would take back the lead from an Isaac Abidde lay up to go ahead 65-63.
The Retrievers would however control the final two plus minutes of the game. A turnover by UAlbany would force Jaden Kempson to foul Ace Valentine with 25 seconds remaining, and he would sink both to give the Retrievers a 65-66 lead with 25 seconds remaining.
Coach Killings would opt to not take his one remaining timeout, but Ma’kaye Taylor would be stripped of the ball, and a quick foul would send UMBC back to the free throw line. After Jose Roberto Tanchyn made both shots, the Great Danes would only have 14 seconds to tie the game. Once again, Killings did not call his timeout, and a desperation 3-pointer from Amir Lindsey would fall no good, as the Retrievers emerged victorious 68-65.
Issac Abidde led UAlbany in points with an even 20 on 8-of-11 shooting. Okechukwu Okeke tallied a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Amir Lindsey led in assists with 6, while adding 9 points.
Ace Valentine led UMBC in scoring with 15, while shooting 5-8 from the field. DJ Armstrong and Caden Diggs joined him in double figures for the Retrievers.
With the loss, UAlbany fell to 7-16 overall and 3-5 in the America East. UMBC improved to 13-8 overall and 6-2 in America East play.
The Great Danes return to the Broadview Center on Saturday, Feb. 7, when they host the UMass Lowell Riverhawks.
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