The new UMBC Events Center will shine this week as the Retrievers host America East playoff games in both men’s and women’s basketball.

In women’s basketball, UMBC will host UMass Lowell in a first-round game on Wednesday, February 28, 6 p.m., airing on ESPN3. The winner will advance to the America East quarterfinal in Portland, Maine on Saturday, March 3.

The team defeated UMass Lowell in their regular season finale, 61-39. Tyler Moore ‘20, psychology, helped the Retrievers come out of the gate strong with back-to-back triples and Lakiah Sims ‘18, sociology, led the team with 10 rebounds. Laura Castaldo ‘18, health administration and policy, and Brittani Burgess ‘18, media and communication studies, earned 13 and 12 points each, respectively. Just a few days earlier, the team honored seniors Castaldo; Burgess; Sims; Chukwuma Chiamaka ‘18, environmental science; and Carly Harris ‘18, computer science, prior to a game against Hartford.

Ryan Odom’s men’s program will host their first home playoff game in a decade on Saturday, March 3, as one of the top four seeds in the tournament. Tip-off will be at 1 p.m., against a team to be announced soon, also airing on ESPN3.

This year marks the first time in three decades of NCAA Division I play that UMBC has posted 20-win seasons back-to-back. Most recently, the team surged past UMass Lowell for an 82-75 victory on Senior Day, February 24. Forward Joe Sherburne ‘19, financial economics, led the way to that victory with his first double-double of the season, with 21 points and 10 rebounds. After UMass Lowell took the lead in the second half, guard Jairus Lyles, M.A. ‘18, education, put the Retrievers ahead for good, with Nolan Gerrity ‘19, management of aging studies, and guard Jourdan Grant ‘18, media and communication studies, cementing the victory. Seniors Lyles, Grant, and K.J. Maura ‘18, sociology, all played major roles in the Retriever victory, with Lyles scoring 16 points, Grant scoring 9 points (in his 123rd career game, a school record), and Maura scoring 11 points.

Tickets for UMBC’s America East playoff games are available via www.umbcretrievers.com or at the UMBC Event Center box office, with special discounted ticket prices for UMBC students, faculty, and staff.