It was the biggest game in the school's history - its first conference championship, largest home crowd and first nationally televised contest - and there were several ways UMBC could have handled the inevitable pressure and nerves.
The Retrievers could have come out edgy, which is how Hartford appeared as it committed eight costly turnovers in the opening half.
Or they could have emerged in a black-and-gold frenzy, which is what happened yesterday as UMBC soaked up the TV cameras and the din from the crowd and stormed to the first NCAA tournament in its 22-year Division I history by routing the Hawks, 82-65.
The Retrievers hit 12 of their first 15 shots, including five of six three-pointers, racing to a 30-8 lead. Hartford trimmed the lead to 10 midway through the second half, but UMBC answered quickly. The only suspense left was whether the gold-clad student section could wait until the game ended to rush the court.
The students couldn't hold their excitement, raining confetti from the stands with 0.7 of a second remaining after chanting "NCAA, NCAA!" They raced onto the court moments later, joining the players as they cut down the nets, hoisted the America East trophy and waved championship T-shirts.
The Retrievers plan to gather on campus today to watch the NCAA tournament selection show that will tell them whom they will play and where. With no team to prepare for until then, fourth-year coach Randy Monroe said there was little to do but celebrate. "One thing we can do is enjoy this precious moment," Monroe said.
No matter who they play, UMBC knows it will be an underdog. "It would be a great thing to do the same thing George Mason did," said junior forward Darryl Proctor, who made 10 of 14 field-goal attempts and finished with 23 points. George Mason went to the Final Four two seasons ago as an 11th seed.
UMBC, which split a pair of one-point games with Hartford in the regular season, won by neutralizing powerful Hartford forward Warren McLendon, who averaged 20 points in the two previous games against the Retrievers. McLendon had five points yesterday.
There was plenty to savor for a UMBC program whose last winning season came in 2001-02 and was predicted to finish fifth in the conference in the preseason poll.
"Dreams Really Do Come True. Dawgs Going To The Big Dance," read a banner unfurled in the student section.
There was an unspoiled quality to the celebration. UMBC, which has 12,000 students, is better known for chess and academics than athletics.
"This is the biggest basketball game of the school's existence," athletic director Charles Brown said before the game. "A lot of the alums had never heard the alma mater. I wanted to let them know we had one."
Brown and some fans yesterday couldn't resist poking fun at the University of Maryland, which is certain to be left out of the NCAA field after dropping its opening game in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Thursday night. "Retrievers In, Terrapins Out," said a sign waved by a fan yesterday.
"I'll tell you another difference: UMBC players graduate," Brown said.
Maryland scholarship athletes have a 78 percent graduation success rate, according to data released by the NCAA last October for athletes who entered school between 1997 and 2000 and graduated within six years. UMBC's rate was 85 percent.
The Maryland men's basketball team failed to graduate within six years any of its recruits who entered school during the period, NCAA statistics showed.
jeff.barker@baltsun.com