Orono, ME - The University of Maine men's basketball team is set to take on the NJIT Highlanders in the home conference opener on Sunday, Jan. 8 at The Pit in Orono. The Black Bears will be hosting their Meet the Bears Event post game at The Pit.
Â
Â
HISTORY:
This will be the ninth meeting between these two programs as the Highlanders hold the all-time edge over the Black Bears, 6-2. These two teams split the 2021-22 season series, with each side winning a game last season.
ABOUT THE BLACK BEARS:
Maine is coming off of a loss in their conference opener back on Thursday, Jan. 5 against the UMass Lowell River Hawks, 70-72.
The Black Bears were led in scoring on the night by Gedi Juozapaitis, who dropped 18 points in his America East Conference matchup debut. Kellen Tynes (12), Jaden Clayton (11) and Peter Filipovity (10) all reached double-digits in scoring in the narrow loss.
Kellen Tynes and Peter Filipovity kept up their solid play on the season as they both reached double-digits in scoring in the losing effort. Filipovity turned in yet another double-double for the Black Bears, his second straight as he had a 10-10 line in the loss. The double-double was his fourth of the season and second straight.
Kellen Tynes has his hands all over the top of the NCAA leader board on the defensive end of the floor as he continues to be second in the country in steals per game with 3.00 per contest. He also ranks third in total steals in the NCAA with 42 steals on the season.
The Black Bears rank near the top of the America East in some major categories entering conference play. They rank first in steals per game (9.9), second in field goal% (46.7) and second in turnover margin (1.6).
ABOUT THE HIGHLANDERS:
NJIT is off to a slow start on the year as they sit at a 3-11 record, including 0-1 in America East play.
Their last matchup, much like the Black Bears, was a loss against UMass Lowell back on Saturday, Dec. 31, 64-67.
Miles Coleman led NJIT in scoring in the losing effort as he scored 18 points on the night. Gary Mekhi (10) and Paul McMillan IV (10) both reached double-digits in scoring on the night.
Coleman finds himself atop the team leader board in the scoring department up to this point in the season as he averages 14.3 per game.
Kevin Osawe (9.1) and Adam Hess (8.9) round out the top three scorers for the Highlanders.
Tale of the Tape
| Maine (6-8, 0-1 AE) |
Category |
NJIT (3-11, 0-1) |
| 70.5 |
Points Per Game |
63.9 |
| 68.7 |
Opponent Points Per Game |
68.9 |
| 1.8 |
Scoring Margin |
-5.0 |
| 46.7 |
Field Goal Percentage |
41.1 |
| 34.0 |
3-Point Field Goal Percentage |
32.9 |
| 71.8 |
Free Throw Percentage |
65.0 |
| 32.2 |
Rebounds Per Game |
33.8 |
| -1.6 |
Rebound Margin |
-4.1 |
| 14.2 |
Assists Per Game |
12.5 |
| 12.7 |
Turnovers Per Game |
12.0 |
| 14.4 |
Turnovers Forced Per Game |
11.1 |
| 9.9 |
Steals Per Game |
6.1 |
| 2.6 |
Blocks Per Game |
3.1 |
-UMaine-
