The University of Maine basketball teams were back in America East action on Saturday playing against first year conference member New Jersey Institute of Technology.
In Orono at Memorial Gym, the Maine women’s basketball team played a home game for the first time since March and defeated the visiting Highlanders 77-60.
Blanca Millan had 24 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists to lead the way as the Black Bears improved to 7-1, 4-1 America East. Anne Simon added 22 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Maine opened up a close first quarter by outscoring NJIT (2-9, 2-5) 21-10 in the second for an 18 point halftime bulge 39-21. The visitors though wouldn’t go away quietly, using a 15-2 run to start the third and were within five on two different occasions. The Black Bears opened it up with a 30-10 run and would up the advantage to as many as 29 in the fourth quarter to pull away for the victory.
At the NJIT Wellness and Events Center in Newark, New Jersey the Higlanders men’s basketball team buckled down defensively in the second half to pick up a 63-54 win over Maine.
Both teams held a first half lead, with NJIT leading by as many as six and Maine by five, as the Black Bears got 15 points from Dechaun DuHart for a 32-29 halftime lead. The hosts picked up the defensive intensity in the second 20 minutes, regaining the lead for good on a shot by San Antonio Brinson about seven minutes in. Maine (1-5, 1-4 America East) was held to just 12 points over the first 13:15 as NJIT (4-3, 3-2) put it away late to pick up the conference win. DuHart had 18 points in the loss, while Stepane Ingo added 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Both men’s and women’s basketball teams finish off their two games series with NJIT on Sunday. The women in Orono at 1 p.m., and the men in Newark at 2.
