Maine put four players in double figures, and got a three-pointer from DeAndre Williams late in the second half on Thursday night to put them ahead for good in a 74-72 non-conference men’s basketball win over Sacred Heart at William H. Pitt Health and Recreation Center in Faifield, Connecticut.
Neither team shot the ball well in the first half and both had a six point lead, but it was the home Pioneers taking a 27-25 advantage to the break. After Sacred Heart took their biggest lead at seven early in the second half, Maine pushed back ahead 44-42 with a run of 11-2 capped off by two free throws from Darius Lopes. The hosts would then regain momentum to build their advantage back to seven at 56-49 with 9:07 left to play. Williams was huge for the Black Bears in the second half, making a trio of huge three-pointers, the third of which gave his team the lead for good 67-64 with 3:56 to go. They would ice their first victory of the new season by hitting 4-6 from the foul line over the final 23 seconds.
Samson Reilly led Sacred Heart (1-1) in the loss with 18 points. Jaylen Robinson and Jaden Slaughter both added 15 points. Robinson had nine rebounds, while Slaughter had six boards and four assists. Williams had a team-high 16 points (4-6 three-pointers) for Maine. Ace Flagg (Nokomis) recorded his first collegiate double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Caleb Crawford also got into double figures with 10 points. The Black Bears shot 51.6% from the floor in the second half (7-14 three-pointers) to put up 49 points. Maine (1-1) will now return to Orono to play their home opener on Sunday when they host Manhattan University at 1 p.m.
The three-point shot by DeAndre Williams to put the Black Bears ahead for good vs Sacred Heart is from UMaine Athletics
