March 28, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Maine frosh shine> Nash, Gordon, Ledbetter solid

ORONO – University of Maine men’s basketball fans already know about seniors Casey Arena, Greg Logan and Matt Moore.

Judging from Saturday’s Blue-White intrasquad scrimmage at Alfond Arena, the Black Bear faithful are certain to be talking about John Gordon, Allen Ledbetter and Josh Nash – soon.

That freshmen trio turned in impressive performances Saturday while matched against the Maine veterans as Coach Rudy Keeling’s team provided some 600 spectators with a preview of the 1995-96 Bears.

Arena capped the Blue’s 19-point turnaround in the final 10 minutes, hitting a 17-foot jumper with 1.2 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime and spark the Blue to an 82-79 victory.

Arena, who was upstaged somewhat in the first half by Gordon’s 6-for-6, 3-point shooting, scored 14 of his game-high 23 points after the break. He also made seven assists.

Gordon, who received only a 90-second rest in the second half, seemed to get worn down guarding Arena. The heady guard from Wilmington, Del., scored 21 points but had only three in the second half.

“I think John played really well,” Arena said of his heir apparent. “I think he’s definitely a threat. He’s a freshman, but he shoots like a senior.”

While Arena and Gordon are both point guards, Keeling sees an opportunity to improve Maine’s offense by using them together.

“What I think we’ll do is swing Casey up to the two [guard] and play John at the point,” Keeling said. It gives us more firepower and a little bit better ballhandling.

Gordon’s effort did not surprise Keeling.

“John was just awesome in the first half,” Keeling said. “In the second half I thought he, more than anybody else, got tired. I think it was big for Casey to make that big shot to take it into overtime.”

Gordon is convinced his ability to contribute consistently will be a reflection of Arena’s experience.

“I think going against Casey is going to get me better for my future years here,” Gordon said. “If I play against him every day, he can make me a better player.”

The Blue scored six of the first eight points in OT to complete the comeback. Nash made a fast-break layup five seconds in, but the White’s Don Long countered with a six-footer from the baseline.

McDaniel and Arena stuck 3-pointers 20 seconds apart to give the Blue an 80-74 lead with 3:46 left.

Gordon and Ledbetter formed a potent outside-inside combination as the White took a 12-point lead at intermission. The White pushed its lead to 67-48 with 9:44 to play, but couldn’t hold it.

For the Blue, Logan tossed in 14 points, Angelo Thomas had 13 and McDaniel provided 12 points and 13 rebounds. Nash, a rangy swingman from Waldoboro, connected for 13 points and played well while matched up against Moore, who popped in 18 points and delivered seven assists for the White.

“He couldn’t get a shot [in the first half],” Keeling said of Moore. “Josh shut him down, blocked a shot.”

Ledbetter, a forward out of Gary, Ind., powered his way to 14 points and a game-high 17 rebounds, while junior transfer Don Long netted 15 points. Junior Ramone Jones had five assists for the White squad.

“[Ledbetter] has very good potential,” Logan said. “He’s gonna be a big factor for us this year.”

Free-throw shooting, a weakness for Maine a year ago, was not good Saturday. The teams combined for a 14-for-30 effort, a poor 47 percent.

Leading 57-47, the White peeled off a 10-1 spurt that seemed to give it a commanding lead. However, the Blue retaliated with a decisive 18-2 flurry during which Thomas, a mobile 6-foot-9 forward, scored five points and Arena four.

The Blue limited the White to five points in the last nine minutes of regulation.

Blue 82, White 79 (OT)

UMaine Blue UMaine White

Name G AG F AF TP Name G AG F AF TP

Arena 23 9 4 2 23 Gordon 16 7 0 0 21

Keeling 2 1 0 0 2 Moore 14 8 0 0 18

Thompson 3 1 6 3 5 Rivers 3 2 0 1 5

Nash 10 5 2 2 13 Jones 8 2 1 0 6

McDaniel 8 5 2 1 12 Reynolds 3 0 0 0 0

Thomas 13 6 1 1 13 Long 13 6 4 3 15

Logan 15 6 6 2 14 Ledbetter 15 7 4 0 14

Totals 74 33 21 11 82 Totals 72 32 9 4 79

Blue 33 72 82

White 45 72 79

3-pt. goals: Blue: Arena 3-6, Nash 1-2, McDaniel 1-1, Thomas 0-1; White: Gordon 7-12, Moore 2-6, Jones 2-4


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