SMITHFIELD, R.I. (Interstat) — In a game that defied pregame projections and required an extra five minutes to decide, the Bryant Bulldogs outlasted the Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers 79-74 in overtime in an America East Conference men’s basketball thriller on Thursday night at Chace Athletic Center.

The contest, played before an intimate crowd of 670, saw Bryant improve to 6-12 overall while UMBC fell to 9-7. The combined score of 153 points sailed over a pregame over/under line of 137.5, and the result was a surprise to predictive systems, which had heavily favored the Bulldogs with a nearly 75% probability to win.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the final minute of regulation and throughout the overtime period. With the score tied at 67-67 and under a minute to play in the second half, Bryant’s Timofei Rudovskii, a 6-foot-9 forward from Moscow, drove for a crucial layup to put the Bulldogs ahead by two. UMBC, unable to get a shot off before the shot clock expired on its ensuing possession, was forced to foul.

In the bonus, Bryant’s Ashley Sims, a 6-foot-8 forward from Glen Burnie, Maryland, stepped to the line with 28.8 seconds left in overtime and his team clinging to a 75-74 lead. He calmly sank both free throws to extend the advantage to three. After a UMBC timeout, the Retrievers’ DJ Armstrong missed a potential game-tying three-pointer. Sims secured the defensive rebound and was fouled again, making two more free throws with 16.6 seconds remaining to effectively seal the victory at 79-74.

The game was a tale of contrasting halves and individual brilliance. Bryant controlled the opening period, building a 33-26 lead at halftime behind 13 points from Rudovskii. The Retrievers stormed back in the second half, outscoring the Bulldogs 41-34 behind the hot shooting of Armstrong, who finished with a team-high 20 points, including four three-pointers.

Bryant’s Aaron Davis, a 6-foot-7 forward from Bay Shore, New York, delivered a pivotal all-around performance with 19 points, two blocks and several key defensive plays down the stretch. Rudovskii led all scorers with 22 points. For UMBC, Jose Roberto Tanchyn, a 6-foot-10 center from Cordoba, Spain, added 13 points, while Caden Diggs of Waldorf, Maryland, contributed 14.

Statistically, Bryant’s efficiency proved decisive. The Bulldogs shot 51.7% from the field (31 of 60) and out-rebounded UMBC 9-4 on the offensive glass, leading to a 113.3 offensive rating on 70 possessions. UMBC shot 43.4% (23 of 53) and posted a 108.0 offensive rating on 68 possessions. Both teams recorded seven assists and seven steals, but Bryant’s 13 turnovers were mitigated by UMBC’s 10.

The game featured 11 ties and 10 lead changes. UMBC’s largest lead was four points early in the second half, while Bryant’s biggest advantage was seven points in the first half and again in the overtime period.

The win snaps a two-game conference losing skid for Bryant, which had dropped games to Albany and UMass Lowell last week. UMBC saw its two-game winning streak, which included narrow victories over Maine and New Hampshire, come to an end.

Both teams return to America East action on Monday. Bryant travels to face NJIT, while UMBC heads to Binghamton. The teams are scheduled to meet again in Baltimore on Feb. 26.