NEWARK, N.J. -  Meeting for the first time as conference rivals on Saturday, the Black Bears squared off with the New Jersey Institute of Technology for the first game of a weekend set in the Garden State, with the Highlanders taking game one by a 63-54 final.

Maine carried a slim 32-29 advantage into the halftime break, putting together one of their beter first halves of the young season with a 42.9% mark from the field in the opening twenty. The Highlanders posted a 16-4 run between the 16:33 and 9:00 mark of the second half, distancing themselves from Maine for good. The Black Bears actually outscored NJIT over the final minute, 15-13, but could not overcome the early run and fell by the nine-point final score. 
 

• LeChaun DuHart continues to be an issue for America East defenses. The first-year guard dropped a team-high 18 points on a 5-10 day from three-point territory.
• A third straight double-double and his 17th straight game with a block, captain Stephane Ingo stayed hot with 15 points (7-13 FG), 10 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, a steal, and just one turnover on the day. 
• It was the free-throw line again for the Black Bears, as Miane posterd an abysmal 2-7 performance on the day compared to NJIT's slightly less disapointing 9-17 performance.

Maine and NJIT will tip at 2:00 tomorrow for the finale of the weekend set.  

For the latest news and updates regarding Maine men's basketball, stay tuned to GoBlackBears.com and the @MaineMBB social media channels.