Orono, ME – The University of Maine men's basketball team took down NJIT on Thursday night to move to 7-2 in America East action.
 
The Black Bears jumped out to an early 8-point lead as they scored 10 of the opening 12 points in the contest as four different Black Bears scored in the first 3 minutes of action.
 
NJIT erased the early deficit as both sides began trading the lead back-and-forth through the middle 10 minutes of the half.
 
Maine came out in front by 6 points heading into halftime as they lead 41-35.
 
AJ Lopez had a team-high 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting from the field.
 
At the 17:39 mark in the first half, Kellen Tynes broke the program record for most steals in a career as he registered his 244^th steal in 85 games played, breaking the previous record held by Marty Higgins of 243 in 115 games played.
 
Tynes had 10 points and 3 assists to go along with a pair of steals in the first half.
 
Maine built their lead up to a game-high 11 with 17:10 remaining in the second half as they built a lead that they never relinquished in the second half, taking the game by a final score of 78-74.
 
Lopez finished with a game-high 23 points as he knocked down a career-high 11 free throws on 12 attempts.
 
Tynes finished with 16 points, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks.
 
Quion Burns finished with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks while Keelan Steele recorded 11 points and a block.
 
Maine (15-9, 7-2 AE) remains at home for the second of three-straight as they take on UMBC on Saturday, Feb. 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 PM.
 
-UMaine-