Maine defeats NJIT 70-74

Thrilling Conference Win: Maine Edges NJIT 74-70

In a nail-biting conference matchup, the visiting Maine Black Bears outlasted the home-standing NJIT Highlanders 74-70 at the Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center on Tuesday night.

The contest was a thriller, with neither team able to pull away from the other. The largest lead for either side came when NJIT took a six-point advantage early in the second half, but Maine responded with an 11-point run of its own. The visitors would go on to outscore NJIT by four points at the final buzzer.

TJ Biel led the Black Bears in scoring with 21 points, hitting four of seven three-point attempts. Ace Flagg chipped in with 10 points and seven rebounds, while Caleb Crawford dished out six assists to lead Maine's offense.

For NJIT, Sebastian Robinson paced the team with 24 points, including zero from behind the arc. Ari Fulton grabbed 11 rebounds and scored six points, while Jordan Rogers added nine points and three assists.

The game was marked by strong shooting performances from both teams. The Black Bears shot an impressive 53.0% from the field, with Maine hitting 17 of 24 free throws to NJIT's 22 of 26. On the other hand, the Highlanders connected on 42.9% of their shots and were outrebounded by five.

Maine's advantage in fast break points – eleven compared to NJIT's five – helped the visitors maintain a lead throughout much of the second half. The Black Bears' ability to limit NJIT's transition opportunities was a significant factor in their victory.

In the end, Maine's clutch shooting and tenacious defense proved too much for NJIT to overcome, securing a thrilling conference win in a back-and-forth affair.