Kevin Little, pictured here in a game earlier this year, helped lead Maine to a victory over Brown Saturday afternoon. Photo courtesy of Black Bear athletics.
Bangor- Kevin Little poured in a game high 24 points to help lead the University of Maine men’s basketball team to a 98-92 victory over Brown on Saturday afternoon at the Cross Insurance Center.
Maine (4-9), now winners of two games in a row, got balanced scoring to help thwart off the Brown Bears. The Black Bears also got 22 points, 3 rebounds and 6 assists from Aaron Calixte, 17 points and 9 rebounds from Troy Reid-Knight off the bench and 14 from Till Gloger before fouling out late in the second half.
Maine had a 27-15 lead halfway through the first half with a 12-0 run that lasted just over 3 minutes to break open a tie game. Brown would respond with an 18-9 run led by the play of 6-9 forward Cedric Kuakumensah to make it 36-33. Both teams traded runs to end the opening half that ended with the hosts up by 5, 48-43 at intermission.
Maine continued to lead in the second half and had a 7 point lead until a 16-8 surge by Brown gave the Brown Bears their first lead since it was 3-0 at 65-64 with just over 10 minutes left. Maine regained the lead for good with 8:33 left when Little drained one of his six three pointers to make it 72-69.
Brown only made 1 of 2 from the foul line on six consecutive attempts. Steven Speith made two with 2:19 left to make it 86-83. Little then would drain a step back three and then on the ensuing inbounds play would steal the ball at half court and find a wide open Reid-Knight in the left corner who drained another three to stretch the Black Bear lead to 92-83 with just 1:46 left. Brown never recovered and didn’t get closer than 6 points the rest of the way.
Maine head coach Bob Walsh said after the game, “I love the way we played offensively today. But we have to get better defensively. I told the guys that if we had only scored 90 points today, we lose this game. But I like what I am seeing and the mentality on the offensive end. We had 84 possessions and only turned it over 11 times and had 20 assists”. Overall Maine shot 48.5% (33-68) from the floor and knocked down 13-24 (54.2%) from three point land.
Brown, now 4-9 and losers of 6 of 7 road contests, they were led by Tavon Blackmon who had 20 points, 3 rebounds and 6 assists. Speith, older brother of PGA golfer Jordan Speith, finished with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists while Jason Massey also had 17.
Maine will return to action as it opens up America East play by hosting Vermont on Wednesday night. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Line Score
Brown 43 49- 92
Maine 48 50- 98
Three point field goals: Brown- Blackmon 3, Speith, Hobbie, Okolie Maine- Little 6, Calixte 3, Reid-Knight 3, Pirovic
Free throws
Brown 22-30-73.3%
Maine 19-26-73.1%
