The Black Bears (0-1) lost their season opener against the Boston College Eagles (1-0) 85-65. UMaine was competitive from the start and found themselves trailing only 35-28 at the half. Boston College had an explosive second half, scoring 50 points while the Black Bears only managed to score 37. Boston College shot an impressive 48.5 percent from the floor as a team. The Eagles weren’t as threatening from beyond the three-point line as they only sank four of their 18 attempted threes. Despite the Black Bears shooting a dismal 21-59 from the floor, third-year forward Ilija Stojiljkovic was a perfect five for five in the game. The Serbian native collected a team best eight rebounds and sank two three-pointers in the 20-point loss.
Third-year guard Aaron Calixte was the next leading scorer for the Black Bears. After missing all but five games last season with a foot injury, Calixte was able to put up 12 points in his return. He was a perfect four of four from the free-throw line, tied for team best with three assists, and grabbed three rebounds in the contest. Calixte’s perfection from the foul line is nothing short of ordinary at this point as he lead the team in free-throw percentage at 82.5 percent in his freshman season. Maine third-year guard Trae Bryant chipped in with 11 points and shot an impressive three of five from beyond the arc.
Boston College was clearly the better assembled team. The game saw four of their five starters record double digit points while Maine only had two starters break double digits. BC second-year guard Ky Bowman and third-year guard Jerome Robinson each scored 18 points for the Eagles. BC forward Deontae Hawkins recorded the game’s only double double. The 6-foot 8-inch graduate transfer from Dayton, Ohio scored 13 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Hawkins, formerly of the Illinois State Redbirds, collected eight defensive rebounds and an impressive seven offensive boards.
The team went 12 for 21 from the free-throw line while Boston College made 15 of their 19 foul shots. Making only 57.1 percent of free throws as a team is a call for more discipline from the line. The Black Bears only made 35.6 percent of their shots in the game.
UMaine men’s basketball will return to action Tuesday, Nov. 14 in Lubbock, Texas. They face off against a (1-0) Texas Tech Red Raiders. After that, the Black Bears play the University of South Alabama on Saturday, Nov. 18. The Black Bears will return and play their first home game against Boston University at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine. Boston College will face South Carolina State on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 1 pm, then Sacred Heart University on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. Both games will be at the Conte Forum.
