BANGOR, Maine – Despite a combined 38 points from Isaiah White and Andrew Fleming, the University of Maine Black Bears could not fend off a hot 3-point shooting Princeton team, falling 79-53 in the home opener at the Cross Insurance Center on Wednesday night.
 
"I thought Princeton did what they've done well this year," said head coach Richard Barron following the game.

"They were really good from the 3-point line, they're a team that scores a lot of points from behind the three-point line. (Devin) Cannady especially was extremely good, he's one of the best players we've seen all year. We tried, obviously not well enough, but we tried to prepare our guys for what we'd see from him and he's pretty talented, so a lot of credit goes to him."

White and Fleming both had big halves against the Tigers (3-2), with White knocking down 6-of-12 shots from the floor including three from long distance for 15 of his 19 points total in half number one. He added six caroms off the glass in total.
 
Fleming matched his season-high in points and set a new season-high in rebounds, putting together a near double-double performance. He tallied 15 of his 19 points in the latter half, on 6-of-7 scoring from the floor, including a perfect 3-for-3 from 3-point land. He finished tied for a team-high with nine rebounds off the glass on the night.
 
Ilija Stojiljkovic also grabbed nine boards in the contest, while nearing a double-double with eight points (4-5 FG). In his first collegiate game in his home state, Terion Moss totaled seven points and three steals.
 
Both teams traded baskets to start the contest, with neither team earning a five-plus point lead until the Tigers ensued on a 6-0 run on back-to-back 3-pointers to take 19-12 lead. White hit a jumper to put the Black Bears (0-7) within five points, but Princeton rallied to take a nine-point leads at 25-16, 28-19, 30-21 and 32-23. Princeton added a free throw with for a 10-pt lead at 33-23 with 2:29 left.
 
Vilgot Larsson layed-in two points to cut the deficit to eight at 33-25, but Princeton's eighth 3-pointer of the half extended the Tigers' advantage to 11 at 36-25 at the half. Princeton outshot Maine 52.2 percent (12-23 FG) to 35.5 percent (11-31 FG) in the first 20 minutes to help gain the 11-point advantage.
 
Fleming drained a jumper to put the game back to a nine-point deficit at 27-36 for the first points of the second half, but the Tigers scored the next five points for a 14-point edge at 41-27. Maine battled back to within nine points at 43-34 after a Stojiljkovic layup and a Fleming trey, but Princeton would extend its lead as high as 17 at 55-38 and 57-40 with 10:38 remaining.
 
Maine didn't quit, immediately battling back to a 10-point deficit at 57-47 following a Fleming 3-pointer, a Moss, layup and a White jumper. The teams would trade baskets, until Princeton took its biggest lead of the contest at 72-53 with 2:23 remaining. Maine scored six of the seven remaining points on triples from Moss and Fleming for a final score of 79-53.
 
Devin Cannady led the Princeton offense with an impressive 29 points, on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor, 5-of-8 from long distance and a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe. Richmond Aririguzoh contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds for the double-double.
 
Princeton shot 50 percent (11-for-22) from 3-point range on the night, compared to 26.9 percent for Maine (7-26). The Tigers also held a big advantage in free throws made/attempts (20-28 to 0-2) which helped stave off a Maine comeback.

The Black Bears controlled the paint offensively, outscoring Princeton 36-18 in the paint. 

White talked in the post-game press conference about the team's progression and outlook this season.

"Togetherness, we need to continue to buy-in to what the coaches are selling, and mentally I think we're a strong group," said the redshirt junior from Ellicott City, Maryland. "The last thing we're gonna do is give up, and that's a credit to the coaches."

Maine plays its final game of the Wolfpack Classic this Saturday, heading to the Garden State to play Saint Peter's. The opening tip at the Yanitelli Center is slated for 3:00 p.m.

-UMaine-