Orono, ME - The University of Maine men's basketball team opens up America East play on Saturday, Jan. 3 as they host Bryant in a rematch of the 2025 America East Championship Game.

Last Time Out -- The Black Bears wrapped up non-conference action as they defeated UMFK, 104-66.

The game marked the first time on the season the Black Bears eclipsed 70 points on offense in a single game, led by Logan Carey who scored a career-high 26 points on 11-for-12 shooting from the field. He added five rebounds, four assists and a steal to his stat line. All 12 Black Bears who touched the floor scored at least two points on the afternoon.

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. In non-conference action, Maine allowed just 70.3 points per game, the best mark in the America East and it puts them in the top third of the NCAA.

Surging Steele-- Keelan Steele is playing some of the best basketball of his collegiate career over the past few weeks for the Black Bears as he is putting up career-highs across the board.

Over his past six games, he is averaging 11 PPG on 73% shooting from the field and 70% from the free throw line. He has also grabbed 29 rebounds (4.8 per game), blocked six shots and picked up five steals over that same stretch.

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 third on the team in rebounds with 56 while N'Galang ranks third on the team in assists with 22 and is averaging 4.3 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 ninth time these two sides have squared off, with their last matchup being the 2025 America East Championship, a game the Bulldogs picked up the victory in. Bryant leads the series 6-2 all-time.

-UMaine-

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