On Feb. 6, the University of Maine men’s basketball team faced the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). The Black Bears won 78-74 at home in the Pit.
Fourth-year guard Quion Burns opened up the scoring with a 3-assisted by first-year guard AJ Lopez. A minute later, fifth-year guard Kellen Tynes, assisted by third-year guard Jaden Clayton, shot a good jumper.
Second-year guard Sebastian Robinson made a layup, assisted by first-year forward Jordan Rodgers, getting the first points for NJIT. Third-year forward Keelan Steele followed quickly with a layup assisted by Tynes. A foul on NJIT gave the Black Bears three free throws, made by Lopez, putting Maine ahead by eight points.
First-year forward John Kelly sank a 3-pointer assisted by Rodgers. Immediately after, Steele finished a layup. Second-year guard Tariq Francis made a 3-pointer, NJIT trailing Maine by only four points. Francis made another layup, closing the gap to two. A foul by Clayton gave NJIT two free throws, allowing the Highlanders to tie the game at 12 points.
NJIT missed several opportunities to get ahead. Lopez scored a layup to give Maine a two-point lead. A foul on Maine gave NJIT another free throw, and Francis brought the game to a point difference.
Layups by Tynes and NJIT first-year center Stefa Jiminez-Vojinic were both made layups, tying the game at 16. A foul on the Highlanders gave Maine a free throw. Tynes shot the free throw. The Highlanders were quick to respond, with first-year guard Ari Fulton hitting a 3, to give the Highlanders their first lead of the game. A foul on the Highlanders gave Maine two free throws, with the Black Bears tying the game back up.
A 3-pointer by second-year guard Cameron Piggee gave the Highlanders a new lead. Third-year forward Killian Gribben shot a good jumper, bringing the game within a point. A layup by Kelly continued the Highlander lead, a 3-pointer by Burns tied the game at 24. Francis and fourth-year forward Christopher Mantis both shot 3-pointers, keeping the game tied.
With four minutes left in the first half, Tynes made a 3-pointer and Lopez made a great jumper as the Black Bears started to rebuild the lead. A layup by Rodgers brought the game within 3 points. Another jumper and layup by Lopez extended the lead to seven.
With a dunk by fifth-year forward Tim Moore, the Highlanders were only behind by 5 points. The first half ended with a free throw by Steele and a jumper by Tynes. Maine led 41-35 going into the second half.
A dunk by Steele opened up the scoring. Moore followed with a layup. A layup and free throw by Lopez maintained the Black Bear lead.
Steele scored a layup, and Kelly responded with a 3-pointer. Steele followed back up with another layup. A 3-pointer and jumper by Robinson and a layup by Piggee brought the Highlanders trailing by 3.
A foul on Robinson gave Lopez another set of free throws, although Lopez only got one of them. Another foul on the Black Bears gave Kelly a free throw. Maine was still leading by 2.
Mantis knocked down a 3-pointer and Robinson made a tip-in, keeping the Black Bears lead by 3. A jumper by Burns built a lead, a Black Bear foul gave Fulton a set of free throws. Fulton missed one, only giving the Highlanders one point. Fulton then fouls, giving Burns two free throws, which he made.
The game remained tight with layups by Lopez and Tynes quickly answered with a 3-pointer by Moore and a free throw by Robinson. Another round of fouls on both teams brings another set of free throws by Burns and Robinson.
As the clock started to wind down, Clayton iced the game at the line, giving the Black Bears a 78-74 win.
Lopez led the game with 23 points, and Tynes got 16 points. For the visiting Highlanders, Robinson finished with 16 points, and Fulton ended with 12 points.
