The University of Maine men’s and women’s basketball teams played the Binghamton Bearcats in America East action on Thursday night. The women were trying to stay unbeaten in league play as they were on the road in New York, while the men were seeking a bounce back performance and pick up their first conference win in the America East home opener in Orono.
In the men’s game inside Memorial Gymnasium on Skip Chappelle Court in Orono- Graduate guard Kellen Tynes scored 17 of his game-high 25 points after halftime, as Maine rallied past Binghamton 82-71 outscoring the Bearcats 50-31 in the second half to win their America East home opener.
Binghamton bolted out to an early 10-2 start in the first 4:42, before Maine settled in and took their only lead of the first half on a pair of AJ Lopez free throws at 17-15 just under four minutes later. The Bearcats regained control using a run of 21-8 to take back a nine point lead, and took a 40-32 advantage to the break. After trailing by 10 twice in the early minutes of the second half, the Black Bears would get back even on a 10-0 spurt including a pair of three-point plays by Tynes at 49-49 with 15:21 left to play. Tymu Chenery knocked in a three-pointer to push Binghamton ahead for the final time at 58-57, before yet another three-point play by Tynes put Maine up for good. They built that lead to as many as 13 late and held on to even their conference record at 1-1.
Tynes shot 11-18 from the floor and filled up the stat sheet adding six assists, six steals, and four rebounds to his game-high point total in the Maine win. He was just one point shy of matching his career-high in points (26 on 11/29/23 at Holy Cross). Lopez had 21 points (4-6 three-pointers) and chipped in four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Quion Burns also got into double figures with 10 points and seven rebounds, while Jaden Clayton contributed nine points and Killian Gribben along with Christopher Mantis had six points a piece. Gribben was also big at the rim with three blocked shots. The Black Bears who entered the game at 32% from the three-point arc would go 9-17 (52.9%) in the victory. Chenery led Binghamton in the loss with 20 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. The Bearcats fall to 9-8 and 1-1 in America East. Maine (9-8 overall) snapped a three game losing streak and will host Albany on Saturday at 2 p.m.
In the women’s game at the Binghamton Events Center on Dr. Bai Lee Court in Vestal, New York- The Binghamton Bearcats got a game-high 21 points from Jadyn Weltz and ended the game on a 12-2 run to defeat Maine 69-59.
Maine graduate guard Olivia Rockwood was feeling it in the first quarter, knocking down three 3-pointers as the Black Bears led 20-16 after the opening 10 minutes. The second period went back and forth with the lead switching hands five times, with Binghamton getting a late layup by Weltz to take a 35-33 advantage to the break. The Bearcats would spead the scoring around in the third, as seven players added points to the scorebook as the hosts held a 56-48 lead headed to the fourth quarter. Maine would rally as a turnaround jumper in the paint by Paula Gallego capped off a 9-1 run to tie it up 57-57 with 5:28 left. A driving layup for a three-point play by Weltz though would push Binghamton back into the lead for good about a minute later. Kendall Bennett also added a pair of layups on back to back possessions, and Weltz added another late for good measure in the home victory.
Rockwood finished with 20 points (6-10 three-pointers) and four rebounds in the loss for Maine. Gallego and Caroline Dotsey both had 10 points. Gallego added six rebounds and four assists. Asta Blauenfeldt chipped in seven points and five assists. Weltz also contributed six assists, five steals, and four rebounds to her game-high point total in the win for Binghamton. Kaia Goode recorded 14 points (10-11 free throws), and Bennett finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. The Bearcats improve to 10-6 and 2-1 in America East. Maine has their three game win streak come to an end in falling to 7-9 and 2-1 in the conference and will battle first place Albany in New York on Saturday at 2 p.m.
