MD Baltimore Co 83, Maine 62

Jan 22, 2007, 06:21 pm

CATONSVILLE, Md. (AP) -- Brian Hodges scored 19 points and

Maryland-Baltimore County snapped a three-game losing streak by

beating Maine 83-62 on Sunday.

Jay Greene and Jerrell Dinkins added 16 points each for the

Retrievers (7-10, 3-3 America East), who placed five players in

double figures. Dinkins had 13 rebounds and Greene, UMBC's point

guard, played all 40 minutes without committing a turnover.

Rashard Turner led the Black Bears (7-11, 2-5) with 18 points,

but was held scoreless in the second half after hitting six

first-half 3-pointers.

Ernest Turner scored 14 points and Phillipe Tchekane Bofia had

10 rebounds for Maine, which was deprived of a season-high third

consecutive victory.

The victory was the first for the Retrievers since being allowed

back in their locker room on Wednesday. Coach Randy Monroe had

punished the team for a lackluster effort in a Jan. 11 home loss to

New Hampshire by banning them from the locker room for six days and

not permitting players to wear team apparel.

The game turned after Maine's Freddy Petkus was called for an

intentional foul on Chris Pugh with 12:16 remaining in regulation

and the game tied at 50.

Pugh, who tumbled into the first row of the end zone bleachers,

missed two free throws. But UMBC never trailed after Hodges scored

a 3-pointer from the right corner with 11:54 left on the ensuing

possession.