BALTIMORE -- Jalen Ross came off the bench and scored a career-high 27 points and Justin Graham added 14 -- with a key 3-pointer -- as Hartford defeated Maryland-Baltimore County 98-87 on Thursday night.

The point total is Hartford's highest since January 2003.

The Hawks (7-13, 2/3 America East) never trailed but UMBC never quite went away. The Retrievers (5-15, 1-4) launched a 9-0 run and came as close as 84-80 on a Jairus Lyles all-alone, breakaway layup with 2:42 left to play. Graham came up big with an answering 3-pointer and Hartford used six points from Ross to get back to a 10-point lead.

Hartford placed four in double figures for the sixth time this season and first since Dec. 14. Pancake Thomas and Taylor Dyson scored 15 apiece.

Lyles, a sophomore transfer, finished with 24 points -- his ninth in a row of 17 points or better since joining the team Dec. 19.