ORONO- Manhattan University used a 15-4 run in the second half on Sunday afternoon, turning a seven point deficit into a four point lead in spoiling the home opener for the Maine men’s basketball team 68-62 on Skip Chappelle Court at Memorial Gymnasium in Orono.
The Black Bears used a 10-0 run in the first half to take a seven point lead capped off by a three-pointer from Division II transfer Wyatt Triestman. The hosts led by as many as eight, before the Jaspers sliced it to 29-27 at the halftime break. The score remained close through the first 11 minutes of the second half, as neither team led by more than four. Freshman Hudson Franz knocked in a three-pointer with 8:57 left that made it 54-47 Maine, and that is when Manhattan made their 15-4 spurt over the next 6:36 bolting in front 62-58 with 2:21 to go. The guests iced the win by shooting 8-8 from the foul line over the final 22 seconds to secure their first win of the season.
Ben Pearce led Manhattan with 19 points, five rebounds, four steals, and three assists. Josiah Sabino added 18 points and nine rebounds, as the Jaspers improve to 1-2. Villiam Garcia Adsten recorded a double double in the Maine loss with 16 points and 10 rebounds. He also contributed four assists, one steal, and one blocked shot. Triestman scored his first Division I points, as he netted 11 (3-4 three-pointers). The difference in the game was the free throw line, and both teams missed quite a few but Manhattan (23-33) had more quantity than Maine (8-16). The Black Bears (1-2) return to action on Tuesday night as they hit the road to take on Rhode Island out of the Atlantic 10 at 7 p.m.
