University of Maine
Binghamton
Men's Basketball Battles Back to Defeat Binghamton, 74-63
1/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BANGOR, Maine -- The University of Maine men's basketball team, which trailed Binghamton by as many as seven, battled back, outscoring the Bearcats 42-27 in the second half to pick up its fourth league victory by a score of 74-63 on Saturday afternoon.
Kevin Little went 5-for-8 from 3-point range and finished with a game-high 22 points. Issac Vann tallied his second career double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds while adding a career-best six assists.
As a unit, the Black Bears shot 51.0 percent from the floor (26-for-51), hitting seven of 18 beyond the arc and finishing 15-of-19 from the free throw line. Maine forced 17 Binghamton turnovers and held the Bearcats to a 40.7 percent mark from the field, and just 32.0 percent in the second half which saw Binghamton make just eight field goals.
Maine was quick out of the gate, starting the game with a 13-2 run capped on a 3-pointer by Little 3:56 into the contest.
Binghamton settled and regrouped, putting together a 20-4 run over the next nine minutes to snatch a six-point edge with 7:27 to play in the half.
The Black Bears responded with a 9-3 run to tie the game before Binghamton rattled off seven-straight, taking its largest lead of the game at 36-29 with 2:06 on the clock. Maine closed the half with three-straight and trailed by four at the break.
Maine fought back to tie the game early in the second half before hitting a pair of 3-pointers to regain a four point lead.
Binghamton outscored the Black Bears 11-2 over the next four minutes and led 51-46 with 12:32 to play.
Maine tied the game just over three minutes later on a run which featured a pair of dunks from Devine Eke and one fastbreak jam by Vann.
Binghamton's Timmy Rose stuck a 3-pointer shortly after to put the Bearcats back on top. Maine quickly answered with a 4-0 run before the Bearcats tied the game for the seventh time with 6:37 left.
The Black Bears focused down the stretch, putting together a 10-2 run late to elevate their lead to seven.
Maine locked down the victory by going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw stripe in the final 1:20, picking up its eighth win of the year, 74-63.
The Black Bears are back in action on Feb. 3 when they travel to take on Vermont at 7 p.m.
-UMaine-
