Tha University of Maine Black Bears put three players in double figures on Friday evening, and won for the second time in as many days by topping Presbyterian College 80-66 in men’s college basketball action in the First Coast Classic at the University of North Florida Arena in Jacksonville.
Peter Filipovity had 12 of his game-high 19 points in the first half for Maine. Presbyterian held the lead on a few occasions, but for the final time on a three-pointer by Kory Mincy at 13-12 with 12:19 left. Ja’Shonte Wright-McLeish gave the Black Bears the advantage for good 1:37 later as part of an 11-3 run. They led by as many as nine and by seven at the break 32-25. The Blue Hose got within four with 13:15 left to play, but Maine was solid down the stretch putting the game away with an 8-0 spurt capped off by a three-pointer by Kristians Feierbergs to make it 54-41 with 9:51 remaining. Presbyterian never got closer than six after that.
Filipovity added four rebounds to his point total in the Maine win. Kellen Tynes had 18 points, four rebounds, and four assists. A.J. Lopez, coming off a career-high on Thursday, would chip in 17 points. Wright-McLeish contributed eight points, including his 100th career made three-pointer. Feierbergs and Jaden Clayton also scored six points a piece. Jonah Pierce had 16 points and Samage Teel had 11 for Presbyterian College out of the Big South Conference, who loses for the first time dropping to 4-1. The Black Bears are now 3-2, and will play their final game in the First Coast Classic when they face the host University of North Florida Ospreys on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Recap by Chris Lessner
