Dobson, Rowe spark UMaine Coach seeks stronger defense from Bears

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ORONO – So much for indoor sports being immune to Mother Nature.

Almost a week after weather forced the University of Maine men to cut their first exhibition basketball game 101/2 minutes short, a snowstorm forced them to start their second game almost two hours late.

At least the result was the same as the Black Bears beat the Connecticut Stars, a team of former college stars, 111-98 at Alfond Arena on a snowy, slushy Sunday afternoon.

“I really want to thank our fans and support staff for staying so long and waiting for our opposition to arrive,” said Maine coach John Giannini. “It was a long day and I am thankful and appreciative for the people to stay and make it feel like a legitimate game night.”

Despite the win, Giannini was legitimately unhappy with his team’s defensive effort and its inability to score more points on the break.

“I thought defensively we were poor, and in spite of Eric’s [Dobson] wonderful statistics and hard play, our guards did not make consistently good decisions. I thought our effort was very good, but I didn’t like our defense at all.”

That’s not to say the game didn’t provide things for Giannini to smile about either, as junior college transfer Dobson turned in a 15-point, 14-assist game.

“I’m starting to understand the offense a little better and when to shoot, when to pass, when to drive, or when to just run the offense,” said the Immokalee, Fla., native. “The game’s getting a lot easier. Everything is like it’s supposed to happen now instead of trying to make it happen.”

Dobson wasn’t the only double-double player as senior center Justin Rowe finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Maine outrebounded the Stars 51-32, led 25-15 in second-chance points, and held a 54-34 edge in points in the paint.

Senior forward Rickey White, who said Maine’s improved outside shooting helps to free him up, led Maine with 22 points in 29 minutes.

“I think a lot of people are going to play zone on us because last year we couldn’t really handle it very well because we weren’t that strong, shooting-wise,” White said. “This year, we have shooters so if they go zone, they’re going to get hurt.”

Connecticut stayed close to the Bears much of the first half before an 11-2 Maine run in the last three minutes gave Maine a 57-43 lead.

The Stars closed to nine after a 7-0 run to start the second half, but Maine responded with a 12-0 run in which five different players scored. Maine’s cushion remained around 20 points for much of the rest of the half. Maine’s lead peaked at 26 before a 13-0 Stars run against the Maine reserves in the final four minutes.

Black Bears senior guard Derrick Jackson missed the game to attend a family member’s funeral.

BLACK BEARS 111, STARS 98

Connecticut (0-3) Maine men (2-0, exh.)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Bradford 12 23 0 1 28 Dobson 7 9 15

W.Antrum 6 9 0 0 16 Petkus 2 6 6

Lott 4 12 3 4 13 Reed 4 9 3 14

Saunders 7 11 1 1 15 Hill 1 6 5

Bullock 7 14 2 2 18 Leavitt 1 3 2

S.Antrum 1 2 0 0 3 Campbell 5 11 1 2 13

Bergh 2 5 1 2 5 Dubois 2 5 4

Brown 5 12 2 13

White 11 15 0 22

Rowe 6 10 5 17

Totals 39 76 7 10 98 44 86 14 17 111

3-pt. goals: Connecticut (13-30): W. Antrum 4-6, Bradford 4-11, Lott 2-5, Bullock 2-5, S. Antrum 1-2, Saunders 0-1; Maine (9-32): Reed 3-6, Petkus 2-5, Campbell 2-7, Brown 1-5, Hill 1-6, Dobson 0-1, Leavitt 0-2

Halftime: Maine 57-43

Attendance: 1,074