Feb. 22, 2012
Box Score
BALTIMORE, Md. - Backed by four Terriers reaching double figures in points, the Boston University men's basketball team earned a 73-52 victory at UMBC on Wednesday night in the final road game of the regular season. Snapping a two-game losing streak, BU improves to 15-15 (11-4 AE) and earns at least 11 wins in the conference schedule for the fourth straight season with one contest remaining at home on Saturday (Feb. 25) against Hartford.
Senior Darryl Partin tallied a team-high 17 points, while freshman Zach Chionuma recorded a season-high 12 points with three made 3-pointers on four attempts. Named America East Player of the Game, senior Patrick Hazel posted 10 points, a team-high seven rebounds and a block to move into sole possession of second-place all-time at BU in blocks with 115. Sophomore Travis Robinson was the fourth Terrier in double figures with 10 points, as BU shot 26-of-56 (.464) from the field.
UMBC's AE Player of the Game Chase Plummer finished with 21 points and eight rebounds, while Ryan Cook had seven points and a game-high nine boards. Brian Neller was the second Retriever in double figures with 13 points. UMBC (4-24, 3-12 AE) lost the rebound battle, 47-34, and was held to 18-of-61 shooting for 29.5 percent.
Leading 23-17 with 6:32 remaining in the first half after a Plummer layup, the Terriers scored the game's next nine points and went into the locker room ahead, 36-20, at the half. BU extended the lead to as high as 23 (59-36) at 8:41 in the second before finishing with a 21-point margin of victory.
Sophomore D.J. Irving drove the BU offense with a game-high nine assists while also recording seven points and six rebounds. Currently leading the league in assists at 5.5 apg, he surpasses Brett Brown ('83) and LeVar Folk ('97) for 10th place in the BU season record book with 148 assists, which are the most by a Terrier since America East Player of the Year Steven Key had 228 in 1990.
On the defensive end, the Terriers held an opponent below 30 percent shooting for the first time this season and dominated in the paint with 34 points against UMBC's 10. They also recorded a season-high 47 rebounds.
After being held scoreless for the second time this season last Sunday at Loyola Maryland, the bench came up big with 26 points with Chionuma leading the way. Senior Jeff Pelage added five points and five rebounds, while redshirt-freshman Malik Thomas posted four points and six boards. The highlight of the game for the players came with 46 seconds remaining in regulation when senior Chris Kurz recorded his first career basket on a fastbreak layup while being fouled.
He along with Griffin, Hazel, Partin and Pelage will be honored before the 3 p.m. tip-off on Saturday, as the Terriers end the regular season with Hartford.
