Last Time Out -- The Black Bears picked up their first win of the season as they never trailed at Boston University on Wednesday night, winning 69-59.

Biel led the way with 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field, adding four rebounds, a block and a steal.

Logan Carey reached double-digits in scoring for the fourth time in his last five games as he had 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting.

Mekhi Gray added 10 points while Keelan Steele had eight points, seven rebounds and a pair of blocks.

Lean on the Defense -- Since Chris Markwood was named the Head Coach of the Black Bears prior to the 2022-23 season, the defensive side of the ball has been a staple of the recent success that the Maine program has seen over the past few seasons. In 2024-25, Maine concluded the season with the 33rd ranked defense in all of the NCAA as they allowed only 66.1 points per game. To open the 2025-26 season, Maine is allowing just 70.3 points per game, the best mark in the America East and it puts them in the top half of the NCAA. The Black Bears currently have the 35th best three-point defense in the country, allowing just 28.2% of three-pointers to fall, which is the best mark in the America East.

Big Production by Biel -- TJ Biel has asserted himself as the leading option on the offensive end of the floor for the Black Bears in the early part of the season as one of the many new additions to the squad for the 2025-26 season.

He is averaging 12.0 PPG, the 13th-highest mark in the America East, on 46/38/70 shooting splits. He also leads the team with 18 blocks and in rebounds with 55.

First Year Impact -- Bashir N'Galang and Ace Flagg have carved out solid minutes in their first taste of collegiate basketball and both of them are turning out solid numbers.

Flagg leads the duo in scoring with 4.7 PPG and is second on the team in rebounds with 48 while Galang leads the team in assists with 21 and is averaging 4.6 PPG.

Preseason #2 -- The Black Bears enter the 2025-26 season being picked in a tie for second in the America East preseason poll, their highest ranking in over 20 years. Maine made their first America East Championship game appearance last season since the 2003-04 season, a game they ultimately fell in to the Bryant Bulldogs.

Series History -- This will be the 20th all-time meeting between these two programs, with Canisius leading the series, 14-6. The Black Bears got the better of the two sides last season when they squared off, coming away with a 84-79 victory in Buffalo.

-UMaine-

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