BALTIMORE, Md. - Host UMBC (7-1, 3-0 AE) scored 45 points in the second half on 53% shooting to ease past visiting Binghamton men's basketball (0-6, 0-3 AE) 74-67 in an America East men's basketball game Sunday afternoon from the UMBC Event Center. 

The margin was single digits throughout and BU was within three, 67-64, with two minutes to play before the Retrievers used three free throws and two buckets to seal the win in the final 1:55, snapping a two-game Bearcat win streak in the head-to-head series.

Sophomores Brenton Mills (17 pts.) and Tyler Bertram (16 pts.) paced Binghamton, which also received a double-double from sophomore George Tinsley (14 pts., 12 rebs.). 

"Our kids are playing extremely hard," head coach Tommy Dempsey said. "We are giving ourselves a chance to win. It's a matter of time before we bfreak through and get this thing going. We will keep grinding and getting better."

After trailing 13-5 out of the gate, BU used Bertram's hot hand to forge a 29-29 halftime tie. Bertram made 4-of-5 (2-of-2 3-pt.) to lead all scorers with 14 points at the break. Down 29-21, BU scored the final eight points of the half - four from Mills and three from Bertram. 

In the second half, the margin never grew above six points and the Bearcats took their first lead, 59-57, on a driving layup from junior forward Christian Hinckson with 6:40 left. Minutes later, Mills brought BU to within one, 64-63, when he drilled a 3-pointer with 4:17 left. But two straight turnovers gave the momentum back to UMBC, which closed the game with a 10-4 run for the final margin. 

Tinsley scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half and Mills added 10 of his 17 points after intermission. The Bearcats drained 12-of-25 from beyond the arc - the most 3s they have made this season. Binghamton entered the game ranked 72nd in the country in made 3s per game (8.8). 

The teams conclude the two-game set with a 1 p.m. tip-off on Monday.