BALTIMORE, Md. – Host UMBC (16-13, 11-7 America East) held off a second-half rally from Binghamton men's basketball (11-16, 8-10 AE) and defeated the Bearcats 78-68 in the regular season finale for both teams Tuesday night at Chesapeake Arena.

Binghamton trailed by 12 points early in the second half before using a 20-9 run to pull within one, 61-60, with 7:07 left. But UMBC hit back-to-back 3s and used an 11-3 run to stabilize. The Retrievers then made five free throws in the final 46 seconds to seal the win.

After allowing UMBC to shoot 63 percent in the first half, BU tightened its defense in the second, limiting the hosts to nine field goals (39%). But the climb was too great.

"We defended a lot better in the second half," head coach Levell Sanders said. "We made it a game but gave up way too many points in the first half. UMBC was way more aggressive and we didn't look ready to play defensively early on. When you put yourself in a hole, you almost have to play perfect."

Junior forward Christian Hinckson tallied 15 points and nine rebounds to pace the Bearcats. Sophomore guard John McGriff produced 15 points, four assists and three steals. Hinckson and McGriff led the second-half charge with nine points apiece. Junior guard Tyler Bertram added nine points and classmate Dan Petcash came close to a double-double with eight points and 10 boards.

Binghamton opened the game by hitting 8-of-13, thanks to senior center Ogheneyole Akuwovo, who scored eight of BU's first 11 points. Okuwovo wound up tying his career high with 12 points - all in the first half. The Bearcats led 26-20 with 9:03 left before UMBC countered with a 24-6 run that spanned 7:14. The Retrievers shot 63 percent and cashed in six 3-pointers to forge a 46-37 halftime lead.

The Bearcats are locked into the No. 6 seed and will play a road quarterfinal game Sunday at either Hartford or New Hampshire, depending on the result of Thursday's final regular season game.