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ORONO – For much of the second half, the University of Maine played perhaps their best basketball of the season, and seemed poised to shock the first-place Albany Great Danes.
But with UMaine leading 60-59 with just under eight minutes to play, Albany showed why it is the team to beat in America East. They ignited a 10-0 run over just two minutes of play that gave the Danes the cushion they needed to escape Alfond Arena with an 87-73 victory Saturday night.
“Just a couple possessions where we didn’t get a shot and on the fast-break they laid it in, simple as that,” said UMaine senior Freddy Petkus, who tied a career-high with 15 points on the night. Petkus made four three-pointers and saw his other three points come on free-throws drawn by a foul on a would-be trey.
UMaine turnovers gave Albany each of their possessions over the run, which featured a pair of three-point plays that fouled out both junior center Olli Ahvenniemi and freshman forward Philippe Tchekane Bofia. Both players were limited by foul trouble throughout the second half.
“If we have critical guys in foul trouble, that’s a problem for us,” said UMaine head coach Ted Woodward. “But I give them credit; when you have to guard the guys they have that happens. They had a lot to do with that foul trouble.”
Albany’s size advantage in the post proved deadly, as 7-2 German center Kirsten Zoellner put up a career high 17 points.
“Kirsten was our x-factor tonight,” said Albany’s Jamar Wilson, who had a season-high 30 points. “They had to open up their zone because he was so strong inside.”
Though Ahvenniemi had five blocks, he was often unable to get position on Zoellner.
“Kirsten got deep position and made quick moves. I think when you start hesitating and making fakes, that’s when Ahvenniemi can get you,” Albany head coach Will Brown said.
“I just try to play straight up, and get close to his body so he can’t use his long arms,” echoed Zoellner.
The Black Bears, who lost their third straight, fell to 4-8 in conference and 9-14 on the year. With their sixth straight win, the Great Danes hold onto a one-game lead over Binghamton for first in the conference at 11-2, 16-8 overall.
UMaine got off to a slow start, trailing by as many as 11 before getting to halftime down eight, 41-33. The Black Bears came out of the locker room playing active, inspired defense and held Albany at bay for the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Led by eight points from junior Jon Sheets, who had 15 on the night, UMaine stormed on a 17-6 run to take a 50-47 lead.
“That’s when we started playing together, with our guards penetrating and kicking, and helping each other get open,” Sheets said.
Wilson scored Albany’s next eight points, trading baskets with UMaine’s Ernest Turner, the Black Bears’ leading scorer with 16. That exchange set up the pivotal 10-0 Albany run.
“Everywhere in America right now in conference play, regardless of who’s playing or where, it’s a war,” said Brown.
Albany controlled play the rest of the way, making free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.
“I know the score blew up a little there at the end because we were trapping and doing different things. But we wanted to try to see if we could get back in it,” said Woodward.
Junior Chris Bruff came off the bench to contribute 13 points and five rebounds which were critical to getting the Black Bears back in the game.
“We’re a different team when he plays that way,” Woodward said. “He’s the one guy who can give us points and rebounds off the bench. We need that from him every night.”
Albany went to the line 34 times, compared to UMaine’s 19, but the Black Bears made the most of their chances, converting a near perfect 18-19. The Danes shot an impressive 50 percent from the field, while the Black Bears shot 40 percent, and 39 from three-point land.
“We had a great opportunity tonight,” said Woodward. “We couldn’t have shot better from the free-throw line, shot pretty well from three, and for us had a decent rebounding night.
“But in that two-minute stretch, they made a few plays and we didn’t.”
The Black Bears will look to get back on the winning track on Wednesday, traveling to Vermont. UMaine beat the Catamounts in overtime when the teams faced off in January at Alfond Arena.
The game, which is being carried on NESN as part of America East’s television package, is set to tip-off at 7 p.m.
Related Posts:- Football: UMaine upset bid falls short vs. JMU (September 29, 2008)
- Football: Paulus, Orange deny Bears’ upset bid (September 28, 2009)
- UMaine pulls out win over Albany (February 16, 2004)
- Albany knocks off UMaine in title match (November 22, 2004)
- UMaine prepares for WNIT after upset (March 17, 2005)
