University of Maine
Hartford
Men's Basketball Falls in Heartbreaker
1/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ORONO, Maine--The University of Maine men's basketball team lost a heartbreaker to Hartford by the score of 61-59 on Wednesday night at the Alfond Arena. Maine is now 7-7 overall and 1-1 in America East play while Hartford goes to 4-10 and 1-0 in league play. Maine was led by America East Player of the Game Troy Barnies (Auburn, Maine) who had 18 points and five rebounds.
The Black Bears opened up a 10-5 lead courtesy of four points from Sean McNally (Gardiner, Maine). Hartford answered to take an 11-10 lead nine minutes into the game, but Maine responded to go on a 12-to-four run to take a 22-15 lead with five minutes left in the first half.
The Hawks would make a run and close the lead to 26-22 at halftime.
Maine was led by Barnies and Gerald McLemore (San Diego, Calif.) who each had eight points in the first half. The Black Bears shot 40.9 percent while limiting Hartford to 28 percent.
The Hawks would open the second half on a run to take a 35-34 lead five minutes into the second half. Hartford would eventually take a 50-42 lead with nine minutes left, but the Black Bears stormed back to tie the game at 57 on a tough Barnies layup.
Hartford was able to make a pair of jumpers to take a four-point lead. Terrance Mitchell (Milton, Fla.) responded with a layup and the Black Bears fouled the Hawks.
Hartford missed the front end of a one-and-one, and the Black Bears had a chance to win, but a three-pointer was just off the mark as time expired.
McLemore finished with 13 points and four rebounds. Andrew Rogers (Philadelphia, Pa.) scored nine points to go with three assists.
Maine shot 50 percent from the field while holding Hartford to 43.1 percent, but the Hawks made 9-of-20 shots from behind the arc while the Black Bears went 5-for-19.
Morgan Sabia was Hartford's Player of the Game after scoring 19 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
The Black Bears return to action on Saturday at UMBC. Tip-off is at 2 p.m.
