CATONSVILLE, Md. (Interstat) — Ace Valentine scored 23 points and Maryland-Baltimore County unleashed a dominant second-half offensive display to pull away from New Hampshire 84-69 in an America East Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Retriever Activities Center.

The Retrievers, who entered the game with a 22-8 record, solidified their standing near the top of the conference by outscoring the Wildcats 50-39 after halftime. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for UMBC, which also won in Durham on Feb. 14.

The game’s decisive stretch came early in the second half. Leading 34-30 at intermission, UMBC opened the final period with a 13-3 run over the first four minutes, fueled by a three-pointer from DJ Armstrong and five quick points from Valentine. That surge pushed the lead to 47-33 and forced a New Hampshire timeout. The Wildcats, who fell to 9-21, never recovered, as the Retrievers’ lead ballooned to as many as 21 points.

Valentine, a 6-foot-3 guard from Columbia, Maryland, was the catalyst throughout. He added five rebounds and four assists to his game-high point total, efficiently shooting 7 of 12 from the field and 4 of 8 from three-point range. He was also a perfect 5 for 5 from the free throw line, part of a stellar 17-for-18 team performance at the stripe that starkly contrasted New Hampshire’s 8-for-16 showing.

The Retrievers’ offensive efficiency was staggering. They scored 84 points on just 65 possessions, an offensive rating of 130.1, and shot 50.9% from the field. Their three-point marksmanship was particularly lethal, connecting on 13 of 28 attempts (46.4%). Jah’Likai King contributed 13 points and three assists, while DJ Armstrong and Caden Diggs each added 11 points. Riley Jacobs provided a strong interior presence with eight points, five rebounds, and energetic defense.

New Hampshire was led by a double-double from Belal El Shakery. The 6-foot-8 forward from Alexandria, Egypt, battled for 20 points and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes. Guard Jack Graham added 18 points, with 15 coming in the second half. The Wildcats shot a respectable 47.3% overall but were hampered by their free-throw shooting and 10 turnovers, which UMBC converted into 15 points.

The first half was a tightly contested affair featuring eight lead changes. New Hampshire’s last lead came at 24-23 after a Kijan Robinson three-pointer with 9:09 remaining. UMBC responded with a 9-2 run, capped by a Valentine three-pointer, to take a 32-26 advantage. The Wildcats closed the gap to four by halftime, but the Retrievers’ explosive start to the second half quickly erased any doubt about the outcome.

The most important part of the game was UMBC’s immediate and overwhelming surge to begin the second half. Their 13-3 run, executed with precise ball movement and sharp three-point shooting, transformed a narrow four-point contest into a commanding 14-point lead. This burst demoralized the Wildcats and established a tempo that UMBC controlled for the remainder of the game, showcasing the gap between a team contending for a conference title and one near the bottom of the standings.

UMBC’s defense also keyed the run, forcing three New Hampshire turnovers in the first four minutes of the half and holding the Wildcats to 1-of-5 shooting during that span. The Retrievers finished with a 15-8 advantage in points off turnovers.

A crowd of 2,652 watched as UMBC improved its home record to 13-2 this season. The Retrievers have now won five consecutive games and eight of their last nine. New Hampshire has lost three of its last four.

The game total of 153 points sailed over the sportsbook over/under line of 137.5. Interstat’s ELO system had projected UMBC with a 93.3% probability to win.