Orono, ME – The University of Maine men's basketball team will play host to the top-seeded Vermont Catamounts on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at the Cross Insurance Center.

ABOUT THE BLACK BEARS:

The Black Bears are coming off of the largest margin of victory over a conference opponent since 1993-94 on Saturday night against UMBC, 84-49.

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 9.8 per contest, which is good for a national ranking of fifth, up two spots from their last game and the highest point the team has reached all season. 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 71 total steals and averaging 3.09 steals per game. Both of those numbers put Tynes on pace to set the Black Bears single-season record for both categories. Tynes is coming off of his first game of the 2022-23 season in which he failed to record a steal.

Tynes is putting up his incredible defensive numbers all while posting the most minutes per game in the America East, averaging 34:49 time on the floor per game. That time ranks him 81^st 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 Vermont ranked 25^th in the country in three-point shooting at 41.7% to go along with the fourth most points per game in the America East at 15.4 per game. His three-point % leads the America East, among qualified players.
 
Following their latest victory over UMBC, 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: turnover margin (54^th), turnovers forced per game (68^th), free throw percentage (69^th), field goal percentage (71^st), assist-to-turnover ratio (89^th) and assists per game (95^th).
 
PREVIEW ON THE CATAMOUNTS:
 
The America East leading Vermont Catamounts stand at 7-2 in conference action as they extended their winning streak to five straight against UAlbany back on Saturday, Feb. 4, 87-68.
 
Finn Sullivan led his squad in scoring on the night as he had 19 points in the victory.
 
The Catamounts shot an impressive 60.7% from the field and 46.4% from three-point range in the victory.
 
They forced 13 turnovers while only committing 10 on the night.

 
LAST TIME OUT FOR MAINE:

The Black Bears are coming off their largest win over a conference opponent since 1993-94 back on Saturday, Feb. 4 against UMBC, 84-49.
 
Gedi Juozapaitis led the Black Bears in scoring on the afternoon as he finished with 22 points on eight of 12 shooting from the field, including four three-pointers.
 
Kellen Tynes was dominate on both sides of the ball as he finished with 14 points, five assists, two rebounds and five steals.
 
Peter Filipovity had a big day on the glass, leading to a double-double performance of 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Black Bears shot 55.0% from the field and 40.9% from three-point range in the victory.
 
The Black Bears forced 21 turnovers in the victory, leading to 30 points off of turnovers and a +22 points off of turnovers margin in the victory.
 
 
JUOZAPAITIS RECLAIMS TOP SCORING SPOT
 
Gedi Juozapaitis has continued his dominating scoring run over the America East for the Black Bears. He reclaimed the top spot in the America East in conference only games in as he is rasied his average scoring to 17.5 points per game through 10 conference matchups. His 15.4 per game in scoring is good for the fourth most in the conference for all games played. He is shooting 45.6% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range on the season.
 
Juozapaitis remains the leader in three-pointers made in conference games with 30 made three-pointers, four more than Charles Pride of Bryant. He is shooting the fourth-best percentage from three-point range (41.1%), among qualified leaders, all while attempting the most three-pointers per game at 3.0 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 16^th in field goal% and he leads the conference in free throw% at 92.6% in conference only games.
 
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 most recently picked up another five steals against UMBC. The five steals were 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 a steal in 22 of the 23 games on the season.
 
FILIPOVITY GRABS ANOTHER DOUBLE-DOUBLE
 
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.
 
Filipovity has been a difficult man to stop when he has entered the game as he is averaging 9.9 points per game in just 21.1 minutes per night, which equals out to 0.45 points per minute played. He also leads the Black Bears in rebounds at 6.2 per contest and finds himself in 11^th overall in the conference in conference only games in rebounding as he is grabbing 5.9 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 35 three-pointers this season, giving him 83 for his career.
 

-UMaine-