Bryant used a 19-3 run in the first half on Saturday evening, and would go on to defeat Maine 73-67 in America East men’s basketball action at the Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, Rhode Island.
The Black Bears, who came in winners of three of their last four including the last time out vs. Vermont, got off to a great road start. Up 6-4, they would go on a 7-0 run capped off by a pair of jumpers from Caleb Crawford to stretch to a 13-4 advantage just over 6:30 into the first half. The Bulldogs then went on their big 19-3 spurt over the next 8:16 and wouldn’t trail again. Bryant led 32-27 at the break. Maine fought back to tie it (34-34) on a fastbreak dunk by TJ Biel early in the second half, but a three-pointer by Aaron Davis about a minute later put the hosts ahead to stay. The Black Bears did cut it to a two point deficit twice over the final 2:50, but that is as close as they’d get it as a layup by Keegan Harvey, a total of three free throws from Khalil Williams, and a dunk by Davis sealed the victory. Maine is still winless on the road at Bryant since the Bulldogs joined America East in the 2022 season.
Timofei Rudovskii led Bryant with 16 points and six rebounds. Also scoring in double figures was Williams with 15 points, Harvey with 12, and Jakai Robinson with 11. The Bulldogs improve to 8-16 and 4-6 in America East. Logan Carey had a team-high 16 points for Maine, while Mekhi Gray put in 15 points and grabbed five rebounds. Biel also got into double figures with 14 points, and Ryan Mabrey had 10 while hauling in seven rebounds. The Black Bears left 12 points at the foul line (18-30), and was outrebounded 39-23. Maine drops to 6-19 and 4-6 in the conference and will host UMBC in Orono on Thursday night at 6 p.m.
Photo of TJ Biel from a game earlier this season courtesy of UMaine Athletics
