Piscataway, N.J. -- LeChaun DuHart posted a career-high and game-high 22 points while Ata Turgut added a career-best 15 point effort as the Black Bears concluded non-conference play with an 80-64 loss at Rutgers on Thursday afternoon.

Maine, which finished the contest 24-of-57 from the floor, knocked down nine triples in the contest while winning the rebounding battle, 32-31. Chris Efretuei chipped in seven points and six rebounds while Adefolalrin Adetogun added six points and seven boards.

The Black Bears would only lead once in this one, with Novak Perovic's early triple putting the visitors on top by one just under two minutes into the contest.

Rutgers, leading by seven with 5:55 left in the first half, was able to string together an 11-2 run to take its largest lead of the half, 40-22.

Maine would not go quiet into the break as DuHart's triple ended the Rutgers sprint and helped the Black Bears to close out the first stanza on an 8-2 run, cutting the lead to 12 at the break.

After the Scarlet Knights ran the lead to 14 early in the second, Maine responded. A dunk from Efretuei came before a jumper from DuHart as Maine tightened the gap to 10.

However, it would be as close as Maine would get, falling in the end by a final of 80-64.

The Black Bears open America East play when they travel to meet NJIT on Sunday, Jan. 2 at 2 p.m.

-UMaine-