University of Maine
Albany (N.Y.)
Men's Basketball Takes Down Defending America East Champion UAlbany, 81-79
1/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BANGOR, Maine -- Freshman Issac Vann returned after missing 12-straight games with an injury to lead the University of Maine men's basketball team (6-11, 2-2) to an 81-79 victory over the defending America East champion UAlbany Great Danes (14-5, 3-1) on Friday afternoon.
The win snapped a six-game losing streak for Maine against UAlbany and also put an end to nine-straight road conference wins for the Great Danes.
Aaron Calixte hit clutch shots and a big clutch pair of free throws down the stretch to finish with 16 points. Classmate Kevin Little hit four 3-pointers on his way to 16 total while Till Gloger chipped in 11 off a Maine bench which outscored UAlbany's 41-13.
The Black Bears went 33-for-58 from the floor, finishing at 56.9% after hitting 7-of-14 from long range. Vann was highly efficient from the field, going 8-for-9
UAlbany was led by Peter Hooley's game-high 29 points.
The Great Danes ran their lead out to five 4:43 into the first half before Maine responded with a 6-0 spring on back-to-back buckets by Gloger. The run gave Maine its second lead of the half with 13:45 remaining.
UAlbany wouldn't let Maine's lead grow any further in the opening half as it answered with a 15-7 run to take a seven point lead.
The Great Danes' lead expanded to 11 on a 3-pointer from Hooley with 3:17 to play.
Maine ended the half strong, closing with a jumper from Little before Calixte forced a late steal before feeding Little for a triple to send Maine into the half down 48-43.
With UAlbany leading by six early in the second half, Maine staged a 7-0 run capped when Shaun Lawton found Vann for a jam which gave the Black Bears a one point edge.
Maine's lead reached three on Little's fourth triple of the game with 13:54 to play.
The Great Danes again answered as Hooley hit another big three, ending an 8-2 surge by the visitors, putting them back on top, 63-60.
Maine fought back to tie and re-took the lead on a deep ball from Calixte just over two minutes later.
The game was once again knotted at 68-all before four-straight by Calixte gave Maine its largest lead of the game, 72-68, with 6:14 remaining.
Hooley again had the hot hand for UAlbany as his personal 4-0 run tied the contest for the eighth time with 59-seconds to play.
Out of a timeout, Lawton took the inbound and drove to the hole. His layup missed the mark but the senior fought for his own rebound, going up strong to put Maine on top by a pair.
UAlbany's Ray Sanders raced down the floor for a layup to once again tie the game, this time with 10-seconds to play.
Maine was able to get the ball in to Calixte who was fouled with just 4-seconds to play. Calixte knocked down both free throws, putting Maine ahead by a pair.
Evan Singletary sprinted up the floor but his layup was blocked by Vann out of bounds. After a review, it was proven that there was 0.3 seconds on the clock. UAlbany tried a tip in play but came up empty as the Black Bears captured the America East victory, 81-79.
Maine remains home as it hosts New Hampshire in league action on Monday, Jan. 18 at 7 P.M.
-UMaine-
