Orono, ME - The University of Maine men's basketball program is set to compete in the UNF MTE from Thursday, Nov. 16 through Saturday, Nov. 18. They will face Northwestern State University, Presbyterian College and University of North Florida in the tournament.

GAME INFORMATION:
DATE: Thursday, Nov. 16
TIME: 4:00 P.M.
SITE: Jacksonville, FL
2023 RECORDS: Maine 1-2, 0-0 - Northwestern State 1-2, 0-0
VIDEO: ESPN +
LISTEN: goblackbears.com
LIVE STATS
TWITTER: @maineMBB
MAINE GAME NOTES FOR TOURNAMENT

GAME INFORMATION:
DATE: Friday, Nov. 17
TIME: 4:00 P.M.
SITE: Jacksonville, FL
2023 RECORDS: Maine 1-2, 0-0 - Presbyterian 3-0, 0-0
VIDEO: ESPN +
LISTEN: goblackbears.com
LIVE STATS

GAME INFORMATION:
DATE: Saturday, Nov. 18
TIME: 5:00 P.M.
SITE: Jacksonville, FL
2023 RECORDS: Maine 1-2, 0-0 - North Florida 2-1, 0-0
VIDEO: ESPN +
LISTEN: goblackbears.com
LIVE STATS
TWITTER: @maineMBB

Last Time Out: The Black Bears are coming off of a loss against Merrimack back on Sunday, Nov. 12, 65-71. Maine shot 40% from the field  31.3% from behind the arc and 77.8% from the free throw line. The Black Bears have forced 14 or more turnovers in all three of their contests to begin the season, which ranks second in the America East.

Ja'Shonté Wright-McLeish led the Black Bears in scoring of the evening with 17 points on a very efficient five of seven from the field. Kellen Tynes and Jaden Clayton combined for nine steals in the contest.

Player Spotlights:

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.

Tynes has come out to begin the season averaging 3.33 steals per contest, which leads the America East and is ranked 19th in the nation for that category. His 10 total steals are good for the 10th most in the NCAA.

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.

Clayton has emerged as one of the most reliable point guards in the America East in the early part of the season as he is first in the America East in assist-to-turnover ratio and his 18 assists are good for 28th in the country in the early part of the season. His eight steals on the season have him ranked 41st in the country and second in the America East, trailing only Tynes.

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 has found himself in the starting lineup to begin the 2023-24 season, which he is rewarding the decision by averaging 10.3 points per contest on 50% shooting, one steal and 0.67 blocks per contest, all while only having committed one turnover on the season.

Ja'Shonté Wright-McLeish: Wright-McLeish has come out of the gates hot for the Black Bears. He is shooting 56.3% from the field and a team-best 46.2% from behind the arc (6-for-13) across three games. He is closing in on 100-made three-pointers for his career as he sits at 94.

He is coming off of his best game so far on the season as he shot 5 of 7 from the field for 17 points against Merrimack. He is averaging 1.67 steals per contest in the early going, joining Clayton and Tynes as the top stealing team in the America East and the 28th ranked team in NCAA for that category.

Program History against the field: Maine has never competed against any of their three opponents in the tournament.

-UMaine-