Orono, ME – The University of Maine men's basketball team returns home to take on the Binghamton Bearcats on Sunday, Jan. 22.

University of Maine (6-12, 0-5 AE) vs Binghamton (8-10, 4-1 AE)
Date & Time	Sunday, Jan. 22 | 2:00 P.M.
Location	Bangor, ME | Cross Insurance Center
Watch International Stream	Web Stream: ESPN + AE TV
Listen	Black Bear Sports Network | 92.9 The Ticket
Live Stats	goblackbears.com
Game Notes	Maine
Twitter	@MaineMBB

 

ABOUT THE BLACK BEARS:

Maine sits at 6-12 on the 2022-23 season, including an 0-5 record in America East Conference action.

The Black Bears head into another week being one of the best teams in the America East and in the country in forcing turnovers by way of the steal. Maine leads the America East in steals per game at 9.5 per contest, which is good for a national ranking of 17^th. Leading the way in that category for the Black Bears is Sophomore Point Guard, Kellen Tynes.

Tynes is one of the best defenders in the country as he ranks third in the nation in total steals and second in steals per game. Heading into the matchup against Binghamton, Tynes has 52 steals at a 2.89 steal per game clip, both of which lead the America East. He is also swatting away the 11^th most blocks per game in the conference, averaging 0.6 per game.

Tynes is putting up his incredible defensive numbers all while posting the most minutes per game in the America East, averaging 34:51 time on the floor per game. That time ranks him 65^th in the country for time played per game.

Gedi Juozapaitis has continued to be one of the best sharpshooters in the country. He comes into the matchup against Binghamton ranked 22^nd in the country in three-point shooting at 42.9% and he also leads all European born NCAA DI players in three-point shooting.

Maine is the number two ranked team in the America East in turnover margin at 1.3 per game, which ranks them just outside the top-100 for that category. As a result of that positive turnover margin, the Black Bears also rank third in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.16, which is good for 94^tht in the country.
 
PREVIEW ON THE BEARCATS:

Binghamton comes to Maine in the midst of a four-game conference winning streak, which has propelled them up the conference leader board after a slow start of 4-9 in non-conference action. They currently sit at 8-10 overall, 4-1 in America East action.

The Bearcats are averaging 69.8 points per game in America East games, which places them in the middle of the pack in scoring as they rank fifth.

The Bearcats are riding their winning streak on the heels of their defense as they rank second in America East conference games in points allowed per game at 64.4. Their 5.4 scoring margin is the best margin in the conference.

Leading the Bearcats in multiple categories is Senior guard, Jacob Falko. Falko leads his squad in points per game (14.7), three-pointers (24), assists (63), steals (22) and minutes per game (32.8).

Armon Harried has been solid for Binghamton on the season as he is averaging 11.6 points per game and a team-high 6.4 rebounds per game.

HISTORY:

This will be the 43^rd meeting all-time between these two programs on Sunday. The series couldn't be anymore even as that all-time series sits at 21-21 each. The Bearcats swept the season series a season ago against the Black Bears.

LAST MATCHUP AGAINST THE BEARCATS:

The last time these two sides met was back on Feb. 5 of 2022, where the Bearcats came away with the win, 60-69.

Ja'Shonté Wright-McLeish was unstoppable on the night for the Black Bears as he set his career-high in point during that contest, scoring 20 on eight of 13 shooting from the field. He also buried four three-pointers.

LAST TIME OUT FOR MAINE:
Maine is coming off of a loss at Vermont back on Thursday night, 45-66.
 
Gedi Juozapaitis led the way in scoring on the night for the Black Bears as he scored 13 points.
 
LeChaun DuHart turned in a good night off the bench as he scored 11, including three three-pointers.
 
The Black Bears shot 36.7% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range on the night. They also forced ten turnovers in the losing effort.
 
 
JUOZAPAITIS SITS AT 100 POINTS IN CONFERENCE PLAY
 
Gedi Juozapaitis has been one the hottest scorer in the America East to begin conference play. He is averaging 20.0 points per game through five conference matchups, which is good for the second most points per game in the America East. He is a big reason as to why the Black Bears rank first in the America East in three-point shooting in conference only games.
 
Following his recent performance at Vermont, Juozapaitis took sole possession of first place for the most three-pointers made in conference games with 18 made three-pointers. He is shooting the fifth-best percentage from three-point range (43.9%), among qualified leaders.
 
Juozapaitis is putting up his numbers at a very efficient rate in conference only games. He currently ranks 16^th in field goal% and fourth in free throw% at 43.6% and 93.3%, respectively.
 
WRIGHT-MCLEISH CLOSING IN ON 100
 
Ja'Shonté Wright-McLeish has been a consistent scorer for the Black Bears over his tenure with the team. He has averaged 5.5 points per game over his collegiate career and he is looking to top the 100 made three-pointers at some point during his career. He has made 26 three-pointers this season, giving him 74 for his career.
 
DUHART PROVIDING SPARK OFF THE BENCH
 
LeChaun DuHart has made his presence felt on the offensive end of the floor since his return from injury early on in the season.
 
He has buried three three-pointers in back-to-back contests for the Black Bears, giving the Black Bears some crucial scoring in some big spots over the past couple of games.
 
TYNES STEAL STREAK CONTINUES
 
Kellen Tynes has been one of the most dominate defenders in the country for the Black Bears. He has registered 52 steals and 10 blocks for the Black Bears, which his steals number is good for the second best in the country and leads the America East by 20. Tynes will be looking to keep his steal streak going as he has registered at least one steal in every game thus far for the Black Bears.
 

Tale of the Tape

Maine (6-11, 0-4 AE)	Category	Vermont (8-10, 2-2)
70.9	Points Per Game	68.0
71.1	Opponent Points Per Game	69.2
-0.2	Scoring Margin	-1.2
46.1	Field Goal Percentage	44.3
34.9	3-Point Field Goal Percentage	33.6
73.4	Free Throw Percentage	68.4
31.8	Rebounds Per Game	31.5
-2.7	Rebound Margin	-3.1
14.8	Assists Per Game	12.0
12.4	Turnovers Per Game	11.0
13.9	Turnovers Forced Per Game	11.4
9.5	Steals Per Game	5.7
2.2	Blocks Per Game	2.4

 
-UMaine-