Bangor, ME – The University of Maine men's basketball team picked up their second conference win over the season over the top-ranked UMass Lowell River Hawks on Wednesday night, 75-70.
 
The River Hawks buried the opening bucket of the contest as Allin Blunt hit a three-pointer, but the Black Bears battled back to take the lead heading into first media timeout of the contest, 11-10.
 
Maine continued to hold onto their slim lead throughout the first half as each side traded buckets before the Black Bears went on a 10-0 run from 9:01-6:04 to make it a double-digit lead at 30-19.
 
The River Hawks went on a run of their own to make it a five-point game as they went on a 9-3 run, capped off by Brayden O'Connor's tip-in layup off a missed free throw.
 
The Black Bears held onto their leading heading into the half as they led 37-33.
 
Peter Filipovity led Maine in scoring in the opening half as he scored nine points.
 
Kellen Tynes dominated the defensive end as he picked up two steals and had two blocks in the first half.
 
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly led all scorers in the first half as he had 10 points and a game-high six rebounds in the first half.
 
The River Hawks came out in the second half and grabbed their first lead since early in the first half as Abdoul Karim Coulibaly hit a mid-range shot.
 
Maine battled back and took the lead back on a Kristians Feierbergs three-pointer, assisted by Jaden Clayton.
 
Both sides traded buckets down to the second media timeout with 11:48 left on the clock as Maine held a two-point lead, 50-48.
 
Maine continued to lead as the third media timeout was called at 7:52, 57-53 following a pair of made free-throws by Fofo Adetogun.
 
The River Hawks made another run at taking the lead before the Black Bears slammed the door again thanks in large part to Kristians Feierbergs who buried back-to-back three-pointers for the Black Bears.
 
Gedi Juozapaitis pushed the lead to the Black Bears largest of the second half at seven points, 68-61 with 2:20 remaining in the second half.
 
The Black Bears would hold on down the stretch to pick up their second consecutive victory as they won, 75-70.
 
Kristians Feierbergs led all scorers on the night as he was nearly perfect from the field for the Black Bears as he buried seven of eight shots, including a perfect four of four from three-point range, leading to a season-high 18 points.
 
Kellen Tynes dominated both ends of the floor on the night as he finished with 13 points, three rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.
 
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly led the River Hawks in scoring in the loss with 16 points.
 
Maine (8-12, 2-5 AE) heads on the road on Saturday, Jan. 28 when they take on the UAlbany Great Danes. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 P.M.
 
-UMaine-