Bangor, Maine -- In a game which featured eight lead changes and seven ties, the Black Bears held a 47-46 lead with just over a minute to play in regulation. However, Maine was unable to hold on, falling to visiting Merrimack, 49-47, on Tuesday evening at the Cross Insurance Center.

LeChaun DuHart and Adefolalrin Adetogun paced Maine with 10 points apiece. Ata Turgut added career-high in points (7) and rebounds (6) while Vukasin Masic packed the stat sheet with seven points, six rebounds, and five assists. Maine featured an efficient offense, assisting on 14 of its 17 field goals, while outrebounding. the Warriors, 39-36.

The Black Bears finished. the contest 17-of-45 (37.8) from the floor, 5-of-18 from three point range, while hitting 8-of-13 from the free throw stripe.

Maine fell behind by six early by rebounded, going on a 17-2 run to take its largest lead of the contest midway through the first. The Black Bears took their first lead of the game on a triple from DuHart. Five straight points from Adetogun gave Maine a nine point advantage with 8:43 left in the first half.

Merrimack fought back to knot the game at 18-all with just over 5:30 on the clock. The Warriors would go on to score the final four points of the half to take a 25-21 lead into the break.

The Merrimack run carried into the second half, becoming a 9-0 sprint as the Warriors gained their largest lead of the game, 29-21, just under two minutes into the second half.

Maine again had an answer, this time putting together a 7-0 run on back-to-back buckets from Masic. The Masic bucket would again tie the game, this time at 31-31.

The game would feature five lead changes and three ties over the next 12 minutes before another triple from DuHart put the Black Bears on top by three with 1:36 left.

Merrimack answered with a 5-0 run as a triple from the visitors gave them the edge, 49-47, with 34 seconds remaining.

Maine was able to get an open look with three seconds left but the shot came up short as Merrimack escaped with the two point victory.

The Black Bears return to action on Dec. 29 when they close out non-conference play at Rutgers. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

-UMaine-