Vestel, NY – The University of Maine men's basketball team fell in a one-possession game at Binghamton on Saturday afternoon.
 
Maine jumped out to an early 11-2 lead over the opening 7 minutes of action, due in large part to forcing 4 quick turnovers.
 
The Black Bears pushed the lead out to double-digits at 25-15 following a Christopher Mantis three-pointer.
 
Binghamton responded with an extended 23-8 run to end the first half as they took a 38-33 lead into the break.
 
Mantis led the Black Bears in scoring as he had 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting from the field, including 3 three-pointers.
 
Kellen Tynes chipped in 6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal while AJ Lopez and Quion Burns both had 5 points.
 
The Black Bears battled back to start the second half as they retook the lead with 12:08 remaining in the half on a Mantis three-pointer to make it 47-46.
 
The two sides proceed to go back-and-forth through the middle part of the second half before the Bearcats pushed the lead out to six points with 7:01 remaining.
 
Maine worked fast as they erased the deficit once again to retake the lead with just over 3 minutes left on the clock.
 
The back-and-forth contest came to an end as Binghamton buried a three-pointer with 29 seconds remaining to take the lead for good, picking up the win, 71-69.
 
Burns finished with a team-high 18 points and 8 rebounds.
 
Mantis tied his season-high with 17 points as he buried five three-pointers.
 
Tynes finished with 10 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.
 
Maine (16-12, 8-5 AE) wraps up their three-game road trip on Thursday, Feb. 27 at New Hampshire. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM.
 
-UMaine-