CATONSVILLE, Md. (Interstat) — Ace Valentine scored 19 points and Maryland-Baltimore County used a dominant first-half performance to build a substantial lead before holding off a second-half push from NJIT for an 87-74 victory in an America East Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at the Retriever Activities Center.

The Retrievers (11-7, 4-1 America East) shot 51.7% from the field and capitalized on 23-of-30 free throw shooting to secure their third consecutive conference win. The Highlanders (9-12, 3-3) struggled with efficiency, shooting 43.8% from the floor and a costly 12-of-23 from the foul line, which hampered their comeback attempt.

The most important part of the game was Maryland-Baltimore County’s explosive start, which established a tone and a margin that NJIT could never fully overcome. The Retrievers opened the game on a 10-0 run, fueled by a Jah’Likai King three-pointer and a Jose Roberto Tanchyn layup, and never trailed. They shot 58.1% in the first half, consistently answering any brief NJIT response with a scoring run. A 12-2 surge midway through the period, capped by a Caden Diggs layup, extended the lead to 28-12, and UMBC took a commanding 47-28 advantage into halftime.

NJIT showed resilience after the break, opening the second half with a 12-3 run to cut the deficit to 50-40 on a Melvyn Ebonkoli hook shot. The Highlanders continued to chip away, closing to within 60-56 after an Ari Fulton tip-in dunk with just over nine minutes remaining. However, the Retrievers responded with critical plays to stem the tide. DJ Armstrong hit a three-pointer, and after a pair of Josh Odunowo free throws, Ace Valentine converted a three-point play to push the lead back to 68-60.

Every time NJIT threatened down the stretch, UMBC had an answer, primarily at the free-throw line. The Retrievers went 15-of-18 from the stripe in the second half to seal the game. A late 7-0 run by the Highlanders, finished by a Sebastian Robinson layup, made it 76-72 with 2:33 left, but UMBC scored the next five points from the foul line to rebuild a safe cushion.

Valentine, a guard from Columbia, Maryland, led all scorers and added two assists for UMBC. King, from Newburgh, New York, finished with 17 points, while Diggs (12 points) and Odunowo (12 points) provided key support. Daylon Dickerson added 10 points off the bench.

NJIT was led by Sebastian Robinson’s 19 points and two assists. Melvyn Ebonkoli, from Trappes, France, contributed 17 points and a team-high nine rebounds. John Kelly added 11 points for the Highlanders.

The game was characterized by stark efficiency contrasts. While both teams attempted 20 three-pointers, making six each, UMBC’s superior ball security and ability to draw fouls proved decisive. The Retrievers committed only five turnovers, leading to a 23-5 advantage in points off turnovers. NJIT, meanwhile, turned the ball over 10 times and managed just two assists for the entire game.

UMBC’s offensive rating of 123.8 on 70 possessions far outpaced NJIT’s 101.5 on 73 possessions, underlining the Retrievers’ more effective offensive execution.

With the win, Maryland-Baltimore County remains near the top of the America East standings and will host Massachusetts-Lowell on Saturday. NJIT, which saw a two-game winning streak snapped, continues its road trip at Albany next Thursday.

The final combined score of 161 points surpassed the pregame over/under line of 141.5. According to Interstat’s ELO system, UMBC entered the game with a 73.3% probability to win.