University of Maine
NJIT
NJIT Nips Maine Men's Basketball, 65-55
1/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BANGOR, Maine -- The University of Maine men's basketball team (1-17) dropped a 65-55 decision to the New Jersey Institute of Technology (11-10) on Monday afternoon.
Maine featured three scorers in double-figures, led by Zarko Valjarevic's 12 points and seven rebounds. Kevin Little added 11 points and four assists while Garet Beal chipped in 10 points and six rebounds.
NJIT's Damon Lynn led all scorers with 27 points, going 7-for-16 from the floor.
Maine and NJIT engaged in back and forth equal action for the opening 10 minutes of the first half until the Highlanders staged a 9-2 run to take a 17-9 lead with 10:25 left.
A 3-pointer from Beal preceded a free throw from Gloger as Maine battled back to cut the lead down to four with 6:29 remaining in the opening half.
Damon Lynn's 3-pointer extended the NJIT lead out to seven before the Black Bears broke out on a 7-0 sprint. Kevin Little's 3-pointer started the run before Aaron Calixte's layup brought Maine with two. Little ended the run with a jumper to knot the game at 22-all.
NJIT regained a slight advantage as it carried a 25-24 advantage into the break.
With the game deadlocked at 29-29, 4:23 into the second half, Maine went on an extended 14-7 run to take its largest lead of the game. Valjarevic powered the run as he knocked down a trio of 3-pointers on three-straight Maine possessions. The Black Bears clung to a two point advantage before a layup from Erik Nissen and a 3-pointer from Little put Maine on top 43-36.
The Highlanders had an answer as they responded with a 15-2 run to take a 51-45 lead with under five minutes to play in the second half.
Valjarevic's fourth 3-pointer of the contest cut the lead down to three with 3:11 to play but Maine could not close the gap any further as NJIT sealed a 65-55 victory.
The Black Bears return to action on Thursday when they host UMBC at 8 PM.
