Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
The University of New Hampshire men’s basketball team has struggled to a 3-17 record this season and leads the America East conference in losses with nine. One bright spot for the Wildcats came Jan. 6 at Lundholm Gymnasium in Durham N.H. A 74-64 triumph against the rival Black Bears gave UNH its lone conference win.
The Maine men avenged the early season disappointment with a 77-72 win at Alfond Arena Wednesday night. While the Black Bears improved to .500 in conference play, the Wildcats return to Durham mired in a seven-game losing streak.
Freshman guard Kevin Reed’s three-pointer gave Maine a 58-37 lead and capped a 12-2 run to start the second half. The 21-point lead was the largest of the game and too much for the Wildcats to overcome. Reed ended with 15 points, only one turnover and explained his team’s early season loss.
“I think the first game we took them too lightly. We kind of went in there thinking that a win was going to be handed
to us.”
The two teams traded baskets as the Maine lead hovered in the teens for most of the second half, but Reed’s lay-up with 4:46 left gave Maine a 71-51 lead. UNH outscored the Black Bears 21-6 the rest of the way, draining four treys, which cut the lead to five points with six seconds remaining. Off the inbounds pass, guard Eric Dobson streaked down the left side of the court, beating the Wildcat pressure. Dobson, who finished with 11 points and five assists, found forward Rickey White under the basket and he sealed the win with the old-fashioned three-point play.
“This was a game that was more for pride than anything,” said White, the senior who had one of his best games of the season. White’s 17 points and seven rebounds led the team and afterwards he explained his team’s recipe for winning basketball games.
“We came out. We executed. We played well and we cut down on turnovers.”
Maine is averaging over 18 turnovers a game, but committed only 14 in each of the last two games, both wins.
“One of the key points of practice is to value the ball,” said Reed, who turned the ball over only once in 34 minutes of playing time.”That’s the most important thing on the floor. Every possession counts. You need the ball as much as possible. You’ve got to value it.”
Maine used a balanced scoring attack in the first half to build a 44-31 lead. Nine players scored for coach John Giannini’s team, which distributed the ball well, recording 12 assists. Crisp passing led to some open looks around the perimeter and the Black Bear shooters buried eight of their 10 three-point opportunities.
The Black Bears reeled off seven unanswered points to end the first half, capping off the rally with White’s lay-in off a pretty feed from guard Udo Hadjisotirov.
New Hampshire’s last win in Orono came during the 1995-96 season. Forward Jeff Senulis led the Wildcats with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard Marcus Bullock, who drained eight three-pointers last season in his lone trip to Orono, finished with a disappointing nine points.
Maine hits the road this weekend with a Saturday date with the University of Albany, a team Maine previously beat by 19 points on Jan. 4.
