The University of Maine men’s and women’s basketball teams continued the last part of their non-conference schedules in their last games before the Christmas break on Saturday afternoon, as the men were on the road and the women were at home.
In the men’s game at Stony Brook Arena down on Long Island, New York- Joe Octave had a game-high 24 points, as the host Seawolves built a 14 point second half lead and held on to defeat Maine 74-72. The Black Bears held several leads in the first half, including their biggest of the afternoon 18-13 on a three-pointer by Christopher Mantis with 12:04 left. Stony Brook answered with a 9-2 run over the next 4:34 to take the lead for good on a layup in the paint by Nick Woodard. They built their advantage to as many as eight, and took a 34-30 lead to the halftime break. With visiting Maine still hanging around at 42-37 early in the second half, the Seawolves got some breathing room with a spurt of 21-12 to extend the lead to 63-49 with 7:37 left capped off by a jumpshot by Octave. The Black Bears nearly erased an 11 point deficit with 3:01 to go. Mantis had another three-pointer, and Kellen Tynes had six points to help lead the charge. Jaden Clayton came up with a steal and layup with 35 seconds remaining to cut it to two. Stony Brook would miss a layup on their next possession with six seconds remaining, and Clayton grabbed the rebound but as he trying to get the ball up the court in trying to tie it CJ Luster came up with a steal and time expired allowing the hosts to hang on.
Clayton and Kellen Tynes led Maine in the loss with 15 points a piece. Tynes added four rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocks. Clayton (3-5 three-pointers) also had four assists and three steals. AJ Lopez had 13 points, and Mantis finished with 11 with both players also knocking down three 3-pointers. Quion Burns chipped in eight points and seven rebounds, and Killian Gribben contributed six points. Octave added five rebounds to his game-high point total in the win for Stony Brook. Luster and Ben Wright also put in 11 points a piece. Octave, Luster, and Wright combined to shoot 13-14 at the foul line as the Seawolves out of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) improve to 4-8. Maine is now 8-6 and will play their final non-conference game at home next Sunday, December 29th when they take on Boston University at 2 p.m.
In the women’s game at the Pit on Skip Chappelle Court in Orono- Maine built a 44-11 halftime lead, and would roll over in-state Division III opponent Bates College 96-39. The Black Bears hit a program-record 19 three-pointers in the victory that snaps a three game losing skid. They never trailed, and held an 18-7 lead after one quarter before outscoring the Bobcats 26-4 in the second to put the game out of reach. They knocked down four three-pointers in the opening period, before connecting on seven more in the second to build that commanding 33 point lead at the break. Junior guard Sarah Talon left the game in the second quarter with what appeared to be an ankle injury and didn’t return.
Maine was led by Olivia Rockwood who had 20 points. The graduate guard shot 7-8 from the floor (6-7 three-pointers). Caroline Dotsey had 14 points before fouling out, Jaycie Christopher (3-6 three-pointers) and Asta Blauenfeldt (3-3 three-pointers) put in 13 points each, and Sera Hodgson (3-4 three-pointers) had 11. Off the bench as well, former Bangor High School product Emmie Streams had eight points and Ona Alarcon had seven. The Black Bears overall shot 52.4% (33-63), and 19-38 (50%) from three-point territory. Sarah Hughes led Bates College with 17 points, while Alexandra Long put in 10. Elsa Daulerio added nine points and 13 rebounds, as the Bobcats who play out of the NESCAC fall to 7-3. Maine is now 4-7 on the season and will travel to Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey to take on the host Knights in the FDU Holiday Classic at 4 p.m. next Saturday, December 28. The Black Bears battle Coppin State the next day at 1 p.m. to finish off the non-conference slate.
