ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Worth Smith led Navy with 15 points and nine rebounds on Saturday night in a 73-58 victory over Maryland-Baltimore County.
Navy (3-3) never trailed, held a 43-21 lead at the half and led by no less than 14 points in the second half.
The Midshipmen held UMBC under their season average for scoring defense (59.2). Navy had 17 turnovers, but outrebounded the Retrievers 45-33 and held them to 31 percent shooting and only 3 of 19 from 3-point range. Tilman Dunbar and Michael Brown each scored 12 points for the Mids.
UMBC (2-4) entered the contest on a NCAA-record four straight overtime contests. The Retrievers outscored Navy 37-30 in the second half but Chase Plummer was the only UMBC player in double figures with 11 points.
Navy and UMBC play twice this season with the second meeting in Baltimore on Dec. 30.
