Orono, ME – The University of Maine men's basketball team heads on the road for a pair of games starting on Saturday, Feb. 11 as they will take on the NJIT Highlanders at 4:00 P.M.

ABOUT THE BLACK BEARS:

The Black Bears are coming off of a loss against Vermont back on Wednesday night, 74-65. The Black Bears currently sit at 10-14 and 4-7 in America East action, good for seventh place in the conference.

The Black Bears defense has continued its dominant run that remains in the top-10 in the NCAA after another week of 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 ninth. The Black Bears defense was nationally ranked fifth back on Feb. 8 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 leads the NCAA in total steals and steals per game. He heads into the matchup against Bryant with 73 total steals and averaging 3.04 steals per game. His steals per game average puts Tynes on pace to set the Black Bears single-season record. Tynes has recorded at least one steal in 23 of the 24 games for Maine.

Tynes is putting up his incredible defensive numbers all while posting the most minutes per game in the America East, averaging 34:54 time on the floor per game. That time ranks him 78^th in the country for time played per game.

Gedi Juozapaitis has continued to be one of the best sharpshooters in the country. He heads into the matchup against NJIT ranked 34^th in the country in three-point shooting at 41.1% to go along with the third most points per game in the America East at 15.5 per game. His three-point % leads the America East, among qualified players.
 
Following their recent success, the Black Bears have seen their season rankings skyrocket across the board into the top-100 in the NCAA in a number of categories, including: free throw percentage (60^th), turnover margin (69^th), field goal percentage (70^th), assist-to-turnover ratio (83^rd), turnovers forced per game (91^st) and assists per game (92^nd).
 
PREVIEW ON THE HIGHLANDERS:
 
The Highlanders find themselves at 6-17 on the season, including a 3-7 record in conference play, which puts them in the eighth and final spot in the America East playoffs standings, one spot above UAlbany.
 
In their most recent matchup, the Highlanders fell in a close matchup and UMBC on Wednesday, Feb.8, 63-72.
 
Raheim Sullivan led NJIT in scoring in the matchup as he finished with 17 points. Kevin Osawe had a big double-double for the Highlanders, finishing with 12 points and 14 reobunds.
 
NJIT shot 41.7% from the field and 34.8% from three-point range. They also forced nine turnovers on the night.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR MAINE:

The Black Bears are coming off of a loss back on Feb. 8 against the Vermont Catamounts, 74-65.
 
Ata Turgut had a great night for the Black Bears in scoring as he had 14 points. He was a perfect six of six from the field, including two for two from three-point range.
 
Gedi Juozapaitis finished with a team-high 16 points, including a pair of three-pointers on the night.
 
Kellen Tynes finished with 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
 
The Black Bears shot 49.0% from the field and 35.3% from three-point range.

 
 
JUOZAPAITIS FIGHTING FOR CONFERENCE SCORING TITLE
 
Gedi Juozapaitis has continued his dominating scoring run over the America East for the Black Bears. He heads to NJIT ranked second in the America East in conference only games in as he is averaging 17.4 points per game through 11 conference matchups. His 15.5 per game in scoring is good for the third most in the conference for all games played. He is shooting 45.9% from the field and 41.1% from three-point range on the season.
 
Juozapaitis increased his lead in three-pointers made in conference games with 32 made three-pointers, five more than Gerald Drumgoole Jr. of UAlbany. He is shooting the sixth-best percentage from three-point range (40.0%), among qualified leaders, all while attempting the most three-pointers per game at 2.9 per contest in conference only games.
 
Juozapaitis is putting up his numbers at a very efficient rate in conference only games as he currently ranks 14^th in field goal%.
 
TYNES SWIPES FIVE OR MORE STEALS FOR SIXTH TIME ON THE SEASON
 
Kellen Tynes is the best of the best in the country when it comes to stealing the ball as he recently picked up another five steals against UMBC. He most recently swiped a pair against Vermont, giving him 73 on the season, three shy of second all-time in program history.
 
The five-steal performance was the sixth time on the season where Tynes has picked up five or more steals in a single game for the Black Bears. He has registered at least one steal in 23 of the 24 games on the season.
 
FILIPOVITY PUSHING FOR SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR
 
Peter Filipovity has made his case to be in consideration for the America East Sixth Man of the Year as he came off the bench for his sixth double-double of the season for the Black Bears against UMBC back on Saturday, Feb. 4 and followed up his performance with 13 points and eight rebounds against Vermont.
 
Filipovity has been a difficult man to stop when he has entered the game as he is averaging 10.0 points per game in just 21.4 minutes per night, which equals out to 0.44 points per minute played. He also leads the Black Bears in rebounds at 6.3 per contest and finds himself in 11^th overall in the conference in conference only games in rebounding as he is grabbing 6.1 per America East game.
 
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 5.9 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 36 three-pointers this season, giving him 84 for his career.