The University of Maryland-Baltimore County put three players in double figures and used a 24-0 run in the first half Saturday afternoon, en route to a 88-46 America East men’s basketball win over the University of Maine at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
Maine (3-13, 0-5 America East) got off a fairly decent start with an early 9-4 lead 2:20 into action, but that is when UMBC took over scoring 24 straight points and holding the Black Bears scoreless for a span 10 minutes and 40 seconds. The guests led 45-20 at halftime. They also scored the first nine points of the second half as the hosts remained ice cold from the floor. The 42 point margin of victory was the largest lead of the afternoon, as UMBC improves to 7-10 and 2-4 in conference play.
Adefolalrin Adetogun was the only double digit scorer for Maine in the loss with 10 points. Sam Ihekwoaba added seven points, while both LeChaun DuHart and Ja’Shon Wright-McLeish chipped in five points a piece. The Black Bears shot 30% overall from the field, 4-24 (16.7%) from the three-point arc, and committed 21 turnovers. Nathan Johnson had a game high 17 points with five rebounds in the win for UMBC. Keondre Kennedy had 15 points, seven rebounds, and four assists while Yaw Obeng-Mensah also hit double figures with 12 points and seven rebounds. The Retrievers shot 47.5% and hit 11-26 (42.3%) from three-point territory. Maine, who only has wins over Division III opponents UMaine-Farmington, UMaine-Fort Kent, and the University of New England this season now has lost seven games in a row since that December 18 victory over UNE. The Bears are scheduled to return to action at home on Monday night when they welcome in UNH at 7 p.m.
