On Feb. 27, the University of Maine men’s basketball team took a trip to the University of New Hampshire to battle against the Wildcats in the schools’ 107th contest between the two programs.
The entire first half of the game was a highly contested battle, but that is to be expected when these two schools play each other. Bragging rights are on the line during a border battle, and both teams played in accordance with this sentiment. The Black Bears were locked in a one-possession game with the Wildcats for almost the entire first half.
UMaine played excellent transition offense with fourth-year guard Quion Burns making a couple highlight-worthy plays, leading the charge for the Black Bear’s fast-paced offense. This strategy led Maine to have 15 fastbreak points to UNH’s four at the end of the contest. Maine elected to utilize spacing in the first half, creating a lot of chances outside the perimeter from inside the paint. UNH went a different route schematically, choosing to drive in the paint. Third-year guard for the Wildcats Sami Pissis helped New Hampshire within one bucket of tying the score with Maine.
Even when the Wildcats made adjustments to their scheme like moving to a perimeter offense, it didn’t seem to matter. Two-way guard Kellen Tynes kept making clutch three pointers to keep the Black Bears right alongside the Wildcats on the scoreboard. The graduate student point guard would finish as the leading scorer for the Black Bears with 16 points.
Maine’s ability to shoot the ball from beyond the arch put them in the driver’s seat throughout the course of this game. As a team, Maine shot over 50% outside the perimeter. Corner-3s were the answer for the Black Bears as the majority of three point shots came from the wings.
Despite first-year guard Khalil Badru’s efforts, Maine played excellent post defense and made it hard for the Wildcats shooters to find separation with every bucket they attempted. And it paid off, the Black Bears’ strong showing on defense turned into an 8-0 run on offense and a two minute scoring drought for the Wildcats. Entering halftime, it was a full team effort with at least three different Black Bears having at least eight points.
To start the second half, UNH came out swinging, capitalizing on Maine’s turnovers. The Black Bears continued spacing the floor well, but couldn’t get shots off. Just like that, the Wildcats cut the lead down to just three points. Despite the Wildcats momentum, the Black Bears kept out playing UNH one on one. Maine’s defense kept the Black Bears in this game, they played physical ball but also made great adjustments on the fly when it came to switching assignments.
Defense played a huge role in this victory for the Black Bears, it gave them time to regroup on offense, create plays and thanks to a couple three pointers from players like fourth-year forward Christopher Mantis and fourth-year guard AJ Lopez, Maine began to widen the lead. The Wildcats tried to match the physicality of the Black Bears’ defense with Pissis leading the charge.
It wouldn’t be a border battle without a little anxiety. The Wildcats grabbed some momentum towards the end of the game, a trend common with them this season. That trend continued as the second half dwindled down. UNH came within three points of tying up the score. A clutch three pointer from Tynes sealed the deal for this matchup as the Wildcats could neither overcome the deficit, nor Maine’s spectacular work on defense.
The Black Bears returned to Orono for Senior Day on March 1 in the Pit, and they will stay in Orono for their last regular season matchup against UMass Lowell on March 4 at 6 p.m.
