UMBC defeats Maine 69-62
UMBC Holds Off Maine in Narrow 69-62 Win
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) men's basketball team used a strong defensive effort and timely scoring to outlast the visiting Maine Black Bears, winning 69-62 on Friday night at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena.
The home crowd was electric as UMBC took an early 32-20 lead into halftime, but Maine refused to back down. The Black Bears made significant adjustments in the second half, pulling within seven points with just over two minutes remaining. However, UMBC's Jah'likai King and Riley Jacobs proved to be too much for Maine to handle.
King scored 15 points, including 2 three-pointers, while Jacobs grabbed 7 rebounds and added 10 points. Ace Valentine chipped in with 3 assists, 14 points, and 3 rebounds.
For Maine, TJ Biel was the catalyst, scoring 27 points on 61.1% shooting from the field. Biel also hauled in 10 rebounds to lead his team on the glass.
The game's defensive prowess was evident throughout, with both teams combining for just 24 three-pointers made between them. However, UMBC's eFG% of 46.4% compared to Maine's 47.5% gave the edge to the Retrievers in terms of efficiency.
UMBC's True Shooting Percentage of 52.2% was a key factor in their victory, as they outscored Maine 36-44 in the paint.
The win improves UMBC's conference record and marks a significant bounce-back for the team following a tough loss earlier this week.
Game Stats
* Field Goals: UMBC (24/56), Maine (26/59)
* Free Throws: UMBC (17/23), Maine (6/11)
* Rebounds: UMBC (37), Maine (33)
The Retrievers' victory was their 62nd all-time against the Black Bears, and it marked a rare win at home for Maine.