Sports

It’s Turner Time

Victory garners UMaine No. 7 seed in Tourney

By Matt Williams

Posted on Feb. 27, 2006, at 12:00 a.m.

Riding a career high 25 points from junior Rashard Turner and 15 team three-pointers, the University of Maine men’s basketball team beat Stony Brook 87-75 at the Events Center in Stony Brook, N.Y.

The Black Bears’ 15 from behind the arc were a season high and fell one short of the school record, set in 1998. The win marked the team’s first three-game winning streak of the year as UMaine concludes the regular season campaign 7-9 in America East play and 12-15 overall.

That mark places coach Ted Woodward’s troops as the No. 7 seed in next weekend’s America East Championship Tournament. As a result, the Black Bears will face No. 2 and host Binghamton at noon on March 4.

“The whole thing about the tournament is who comes in the hottest,” said junior Chris Bruff. “We’re going to go in there with our heads held high and a whole lot of confidence.”

Seniors Ernest Turner had 19 points and classmate Freddy Petkus added 13 as the duo shined in their final regular season contests at UMaine..

The Black Bears got out to another slow start, falling behind 8-3 before Rashard hit two straight treys to put UMaine on top 9-8.

With the Seawolves struggling to score, the Black Bears went on a 23-7 run sparked by nine three-pointers, putting UMaine ahead 32-15. On the run, Rashard Turner and Freddy Petkus each had three treys, while Jon Sheets added two and Ernest Turner had one.

Ernest Turner then scored eight straight points, sending the Black Bears into the locker room up 45-28. He had 19 on the afternoon.

The Black Bears would lead by as many as 21 early in the second half before a Stony Brook run cut the deficit in half. UMaine made 13 free throws in the final minutes to keep the cushion intact and preserve the win.

Now, the Black Bears turn their attention to Binghamton, who handled UMaine in their match-ups this season by scores of 71-53 and 84-56 and have won four in a row over the Black Bears overall.

Further complicating matters, Binghamton is hosting the championship tourney and went 6-2 against conference opponents at home this season.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 27th, 2006, 12:00 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.