University of Maine
NJIT
Akanda-Coronel Scores 26 in the Second Half But Maine Falls to NJIT, 88-82
11/19/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ORONO, Maine – Dimitry Akanda-Coronel scored 26 second-half points but the Black Bears fell to NJIT, 88-82, in the team's first game at the new Cross Insurance Center, Tuesday night. The Black Bears drop to 1-3 on the year while NJIT improves to 3-2.
The Black Bears finished the game shooting 42 percent overall after struggling to score points in the first frame. NJIT shot 48 percent for the game.
Maine, which struggled for rebounds in its first three contests, did a better job in the war for the glass on Monday night, bringing down 37 rebounds to NJIT's 39.
Akanda-Coronel set yet another career-high in points using a 26-point second half to add to his three points in the first, tallying 29 total points.
The Black Bears had two other scorers in double-digits as Zarko Valjarevic chipped in 14 and Shaun Lawton finished with 12.
The Highlanders went on a 12-10 run to open the game as Shawn Lawton and Troy Reid-Knight hit back-to-back threes to lead the Black Bear offense.
NJIT came right back, going on a 9-0 run capped by a Terrence Smith jumper that forced the Black Bears to call time out with the game 19-10.
The Highlanders built their lead up to 13 midway through the half but an Ethan Mackey layup and Akanda-Coronel three-pointer cut the lead to eight, 25-17 in favor of NJIT.
Maine remained persistent cutting the lead to one after a Lawton stole a pass and broke up court and slammed home a dunk to make it 30-29 with under four minutes to play.
NJIT caught fire in their offensive game after that, going on a 12-0 run to end the half.
Maine struggled from the field shooting 33 percent, going 11-of-33. NJIT struggled early but ended up shooting 45 percent (15-of-33).
Maine held a slight edge in boards taking down 21 total while NJIT finished the half with 20.
The Highlanders took control in the second half building up to a 17-point lead but the Black Bears continued to fight.
3-pointers by Valjarevic and Akanda-Coronel cut the lead to eight but NJIT didn't falter.
The Black Bears never got within six points of the lead as the Highlanders end their three-game road swing with an 88-82 victory.
Maine now has less than a week to prepare for its next challenge, as the Black Bears will host Quinnipiac at the Cross Insurance Center on Monday, Nov. 25. That game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
