Binghamton 72, UMBC 70

Badly needing a win to stay in the hunt for a spot in the field of the upcoming America East tournament, Binghamton got one Saturday night in a 72-70 upset over Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore.

Bearcats guard Yosef Yacob led the way with 20 points and four assists as Binghamton (7-20, 4-10 America East) took a big step toward securing one of the final four spots in the March 7-10 conference tourney at the University of Albany.

UMBC (9-19, 5-10), which was led by guard Quentin Jones’ 19 points, came into Saturday as the No. 5 seed, but giving up just the Bearcats’ fourth America East win of the season didn’t help the Retrievers’ standing.

Binghamton shot 5 of 12 from 3-point range in the first half and raced out to a 41-30 advantage. Jacob led all scorers at intermission with 14 points and the Bearcats were all over the offensive glass early, outrebounding the Retrievers 7-0.

The lead grew to 18 points (60-42) with just under 11 minutes left in the second half.

The Retrievers, however, roared back.

Jones tied the game at 66-66 on a 3-pointer with just over two minutes to play, then forward Chase Plummer gave the Retrievers their first lead, 67-66, since the first half when he hit one of two free throws.

But after two free throws by Binghamton guard Marlon Beck, guard Jordan Reed’s fast-break layup with 57 seconds to play put the Bearcats back in front for good, 70-68.

Beck added 16 points and Bearcats forward Roland Brown chipped in 10.

UMBC also got solid games from Plummer (12 points and seven rebounds) and forward Charles Taylor Jr. (10 points).

Binghamton came in having lost nine of the last 11, but Saturday’s victory not only avenged a 73-61 loss to the Retrievers on Jan. 29, it allowed the Retrievers to take a 13-12 lead in the series.

Binghamton plays at Hartford on Thursday, and UMBC closes the season March 2 at Hartford.