Orono, ME - The University of Maine men's basketball team will host Merrimack College at The Pit on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 4 P.M. The women's basketball team is in action at 1 P.M. as part of a two-game slate in Orono on Sunday.

GAME INFORMATION: Basketball is Back in Orono Day
DATE: Sunday, Nov. 12
TIME: 4:00 P.M.
SITE: Orono, ME | The Pit
2023 RECORDS: Maine 1-1, 0-0 - Merrimack 1-1, 0-0
VIDEO: ESPN +
LISTEN: goblackbears.com
LIVE STATS: goblackbears.com
TICKETS
TWITTER: @maineMBB
MAINE GAME NOTES
MERRIMACK GAME NOTES

Last Time Out: Maine shot 61.5% from the field in the blowout victory over UMPI back on Wednesday, winning 111-59.

A staple of Coach Markwood's system, the Black Bears forced 16 turnovers while just having 10 of their own.

The Black Bears utilized every player in the victory back on Wednesday night, with Kellen Tynes and Logan Carey leading the way with 18 points each.

Milos Nenadic supplied his first career double-double in the win, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, three of which were offensive boards.

Player Spotlights:

AJ Lopez: Through the opening two contests on the season, Lopez finds himself as the leading scorer for the Black Bears on some impressive shooting numbers. He is averaging 13.5 points per game, 13 on opening night and 14 back on Wednesday. He is shooting 58.8% from the field, 66.7% from the free throw line (4 of 6) and 50% from behind the arc.

Kellen Tynes: One season ago, Kellen Tynes (Jr. – Dartmouth, Nova Scotia) became the first Black Bear in program history to be named a Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and his numbers were above anyone else in the entire NCAA. Tynes led the country with 98 steals (excluding the NCAA Tournament) and his average of 3.27 steals per game also led the country and were the most in the NCAA in three years.

Adding on 0.5 blocks per game, Tynes asserted himself as the best defensive player in the America East and as perennial National Semifinalist for the Defensive Player of the Year.

His stellar defensive play was paired with some solid offensive numbers, which including 14.3 PGG, 4.6 RPG and 3.8 APG, earning Tynes third-team All-Conference honors in 2022-23.

Tynes returned to form against UMPI, shooting 8 of 12 from the field, grabbing three rebounds and picking up four steals. Through the opening two contests, Tynes has yet to commit a turnover.

Jaden Clayton: As a freshman in 2022-23, Clayton established himself as a reliable passer as the point guard for the new look Black Bears. Clayton ranked third in the America East with 3.9 assists per game, which was the third most in the conference and his 118 total assists were also the third most in the conference.

Clayton earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team in the America East as he also ranked second in the America East in total steals with 54, trailing only his teammate, Kellen Tynes. Clayton scored 6.9 points per contest last season on only 38.8% from the field, numbers he is looking to improve upon when he takes the floor as the starting point guard on opening night for the Black Bears.

Through the first two contests on the new season, Clayton has a 6.0 assist-to-turnover ratio (12:2) while shooting 40% from the behind the arc.

Peter Filipovity: A finalist for the America East Sixth Man of the Year, Filipovity took a big leap forward is in his first under Coach Markwood and his staff. His average points nearly doubled as he went from averaging 4.8 points in 2021-22 to 9.2 points per game in 2022-23. His rebounding numbers also increased by more than double as he averaged 5.7 last season, compared to 2.7 the season before.

Filipovity provided the Black Bears with a much-needed spark off the bench a season ago as he supplied five double-doubles in that roll, including a career-best 17-point outing against Columbia on Nov. 18.

Filipovity found himself in the starting lineup for the first two contests of the season, where he has scored seven and 12 points, had six total rebounds and has had a block and steal in each contest.

Wright-McLeish looks to become 20th Black Bear in Program History to hit 100-three points: A key-piece of the Black Bears over the past four seasons, Ja'Shonté Wright-McLeish will be looking to become just the 20th Black Bear in school history to make 100-career three pointers. A season ago, he knocked down a career-best 40 three-pointers, shooting 31.3% from behind the arc. For his career, he sits at 90.

Program History against Merrimack: This will be the fourth meeting between these two programs, with the Black Bears holding the all-time lead at 2-1.

-UMaine-