PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Trailing by as much as 19 points in the second half, the University of Maine men's basketball team whittled the Brown lead to just two points with less than three minutes left, but Brown responded by going 8-for-8 from the free throw line to earn a 75-67 victory at the Pizzitola Sports Center on Wednesday night.
 
Andrew Fleming reached the 20-point milestone for the second time this season, knocking down 7-of-14 shots for 21 points, while grabbing seven boards and dishing four assists. 17 of his points came in the final 20 minutes, as he went 7-of-9 from the charity stripe in the second half.
 
Isaiah White added 20 points, connecting on 4-of-7 attempts from long range. Sergio El Dariwch reached double-figures for the fourth time in the last five games, totaling 15 points, while distributing four assists. Along with Fleming, Vilgot Larsson (8 rebounds), and Terion Moss (8 rebounds) led the charge off the glass, combining for 16 of Maine's 36 rebounds. The Black Bears (2-14) led in the column by a 36-23 mark.
 
From the opening tip, Brown took control on a 19-3 run over the course of the 5:45 of the first half to establish a 16-point advantage. Maine rallied to cut the deficit to single digits on a 21-14 run of their own, as White led Maine with nine points in the first half. The Bears (10-4) added a jumper and a 3-pointer as time expired to take a 38-24 advantage into the locker room.
 
The two teams traded points to start the second half, as Brown eventually built a 19-point lead at 53-34 after five minutes played. White halted the run with a trey, as Maine slowly cut the deficit to single digits to 59-50 on a 18-8 sprint, with Fleming scoring seven points on the run.
 
After two Brown free throws, an Ilija Stojiljkovic layup and Fleming slam made it a seven point game at 61-54. Brown brought its the lead back up to 10, but an El Darwich triple and layup along with a Fleming hoop and a harm sliced the Brown lead to just two points at 65-63 with 2:45 remaining.
 
Brown maintained its lead with an excellent performance from the free throw line, sinking 19 of 20 attempts overall from the stripe, including a perfect 8-for-8 inside the final three minutes to claim its 10^th victory of the season. Over its last three games, Maine's opponents have made 66 of 79 attempts (.835) to help ice games over the Black Bears.
 
After Brown shot 43 percent (7-16) from long range in the first half, the Black Bear defense allowed just 3-of-11 shots to. be converted from deep in the second half. Maine outscored Brown 43-37 in the final half as a result.
 
Four Brown Bears reached double-figures in scoring, led by Desmond Cambridge's 19 points. 
 
Maine opens America East play on the road on Saturday, when the Black Bears head to AE Tournament Champion UMBC for a 1:00 p.m. tip in Catonsville, Md.
 
-UMaine-