Smithfield, RI – The University of Maine men's basketball fell at Bryant on Thursday night, 77-72.
 
Both teams came of the gates strong on the defensive end of the floor as both sides were only a combined 7-for-19 across the first six minutes of the first half, with Bryant holding a slight edge in scoring at 10-7.
 
Maine grabbed the lead at 19-18 following a layup by Peter Filipovity before extending the lead quickly to six points at 26-20 with just over six minutes remaining in the first half.
 
Both sides traded the lead back-and-forth over the final minutes of the first half, with Bryant narrowly grabbing the lead at 39-38 entering halftime.
 
Kellen Tynes led the Black Bears in scoring in the first half as he had 10 points. He also swiped four steals.
 
Jaden Clayton (9), Ja'Shonté Wright-McLeish (7) and AJ Lopez (5) round out the top scorers for Maine.
 
Both sides kept the contest close to begin the second-half as neither team pulled out to more than a three-point lead until Bryant grabbed a six-point lead at 62-56 with 8:23 remaining in the second half.
 
Bryant pushed their lead up to nine before Maine went on a quick 6-0 run to cut it back down to three with 4:39 remaining in the second half.
 
Maine was able to get within one point in the final three minutes of the contest but Bryant was able to hold off the Black Bear comeback to pick up the win, 77-72.
 
Lopez finished with a team-high 15 points for the Black Bears.
 
Clayton (14), Tynes (12) and Wright-McLeish (11) all reached double-digits in scoring on the night.
 
Maine (11-14, 3-7 AE) returns to Orono for a three-game home stand starting on Saturday, Feb. 17 against Vermont. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 P.M.
 
-UMaine-