The UMBC men's basketball program began play for the 1967–68 season, finishing with a 4–7 record under head coach Joe Phillip. The Retrievers joined
NCAA Division I for the 1986–87 season, competing as an independent. In 1990, UMBC joined the
East Coast Conference, later joining the
Big South Conference in 1992,
Northeast Conference in 1998, and
America East Conference in 2003. Under the leadership of head coach
Randy Monroe, the Retrievers went 24–9 and made their first NCAA tournament appearance in 2008, defeating Hartford in the America East championship. At the
2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, UMBC lost to Georgetown 66–47 in the first round. In 2018, UMBC returned to the NCAA tournament under head coach
Ryan Odom after defeating Vermont 65–62 in the America East championship. In the
2018 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, the Retrievers achieved a historic upset win over No. 1 seeded Virginia
74–54. With the win, UMBC became the first No. 16 seed to ever defeat a No. 1 seed in the
NCAA tournament. In the second round they would lose to No. 9 seeded Kansas State 50–43. In 2026, after an eight-year absence, the Retrievers returned to the
2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament led by
Jim Ferry after earning a 24–8 record and defeating Vermont 74–59 in the America East championship game. UMBC's
DJ Armstrong scored 33 points including seven three-pointers to lead the Retrievers back to the NCAA tournament. They would lose to No. 16 seeded Howard in the
First Four 86–83. ==Postseason==