LUBBOCK, Texas – Despite a near even second-half in terms of scoring, the University of Maine Black Bears men's basketball team could not comeback from a steep first half deficit, falling to Texas Tech 83-44 on Tuesday night at United Supermarkets Arena.
 
For the second-straight game, Ilija Stojiljkovic led the Black Bears (0-2) in scoring and rebounding. The junior forward recorded eight points on an efficient 4-of-6 shooting and brought down five rebounds. Andrew Fleming also tallied eight points, while Dusan Majstorovic and Ilker Er each added seven.
 
"Just a relentless attack from Texas Tech," said head coach Bob Walsh after the game. "I love the way they play. It's a credit to Chris (Beard) and their kids. They come at you in waves, and they attack. It was everything I was worried about coming into the game. Their intensity, their pressure, their athleticism and their size was just going to take us out of who we are. That's exactly what they did. They got us on our heels."
 
Texas Tech (2-0) jumped to an early 11-0 lead in front of a hostile crowd of 6,317. Maine got on the scoreboard when Aaron Calixte converted his first three-point attempt of the evening to bring the game to 11-3. The Red Raiders ensued on a 12-0 run to take a significant lead over the Black Bears, as Texas Tech  kept pressure on Maine the entire first half.
 
The Black Bears did not give up and fought hard in the second-half, going toe-to-toe with the Red Raiders. Maine doubled their shooting percentage from the first half to the second, and out-rebounded the Red Raiders by a count of 19-15 in the final 20 minutes. Texas Tech outscored Maine by just three points at 34-31 in the final half. 
 
Maine returns to action this Friday against South Alabama in the first game of the Springfield Bracket portion of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament. The opening tip is set for 5:00 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
 
-UMaine-