But you still need to activate your account.
Sign in or Subscribe to view this content.
ORONO – When a team isn’t shooting well, it must take greater pains to execute the other aspects of the game, including defense and rebounding.
The University of Maine men’s basketball team struggled at the offensive end Sunday afternoon, but didn’t let down in other key areas.
Junior forward Joe Campbell of Bangor exemplified the Black Bears’ hustle and determination, scoring two key offensive rebound baskets in the second half to lift UMaine to a 56-50 America East victory over Albany at Alfond Arena.
Coach John Giannini’s Bears improved to 10-5 overall, 4-2 in conference play, with their second straight win.
“We obviously did not play a great game, but there were a number of positives,” Giannini said. “I thought our overall team defense was very good. I thought our rebounding was solid….”
Campbell, who during one sequence dove to the floor twice in an attempt to control a loose ball, said the Bears’ intensity was the key to the victory.
“I think that’s what it came down to this game was that we really went out and played hard and showed a lot of heart,” said Campbell, who scored 11 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, came up with three steals, and added two assists and a blocked shot.
UMaine shot 35 percent from the floor, including only 29 percent in the first half (1-for-15 from 3-point range). But the hosts prevailed against Albany’s 1-2-2 zone by making five 3’s and crashing the boards in the second half.
“You can’t score points unless you shoot,” said sophomore guard Kevin Reed, who led UMaine with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
“If you miss one, you can’t be afraid to take the next one,” he said of the Bears’ early shooting woes. “You’ve got to brush off your misses and just focus on the next attempt.”
Senior guard Eric Dobson finished with 11 points for UMaine, which outrebounded Albany (3-12, 1-5 AE) 38-34.
Freshman Jon Iati scored 12 points for the Great Danes, who had only eight players in uniform, including three walk-ons. Levi Levine netted 11 with nine rebounds, while Chris Wyatt and Aquawasi St. Hillaire each posted 10 points and six boards.
The Bears led 48-38 with 51/2 minutes left when the Danes mounted a 10-2 scoring run. St. Hillaire scored twice from close range as Albany crept within 50-48 with 1:55 to play.
On UMaine’s ensuing possession, Chris Markwood’s 3-point try from the corner bounced off the rim. Campbell alertly slipped inside, grabbed the rebound, and scored to make it a four-point game with 1:31 left.
“Campbell’s offensive rebound broke our back,” said Albany coach Will Brown. “That was a great hustle play… He caught that rebound, didn’t hesitate, went right through a crowd, finished it, and that makes it a two-possession game.”
Albany followed with a turnover, but Freddy Petkus missed the front end of a bonus with 51.8 seconds remaining. The Danes answered with two Levine foul shots, but Dobson and Reed each made two from the line in the final 38 seconds to help UMaine hold on.
The Bears, who led by 10 in the first half, were sparked by Campbell’s play after the break. His 3-pointer early in the half helped UMaine regain the lead after losing it briefly.
Campbell then answered an Albany hoop by assisting on a Petkus 3-pointer. Less than a minute later, Campbell swooped into the paint, snared a rebound in midair, and deftly hit a momentum-building shot.
“I think that’s what won the game for us is a lot of guys, not just me, were making a lot of tough plays like that and really showing a lot of heart and going after the ball and getting rebounds,” Campbell said.
BLACK BEARS 56, GREAT DANES 50
Albany (3-12) Maine (10-5)
Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP
Levine 4 11 2 3 11 Flavin 2 5 6
Wyatt 4 6 2 6 10 Campbell 4 11
St. Hillaire 5 8 0 0 10 Dobson 3 6 11
Johnson 1 2 2 3 4 Reed 5 12 15
Iati 5 16 0 1 12 Markwood 2 7 4
Martin 0 0 0 0 0 Hadjisotirov 0 0
Cheese 0 0 0 0 0 Petkus 3 9 8
Knotts 0 4 3 4 3 Dubois 0 1 0
Ahvenniemi 0 3 1
Totals 19 47 9 17 50 Totals 19 55 12 17 56
Albany 19 50
Maine 21 56
3-pt. goals ? Albany (3-19): Levine 1-4, St. Hillaire 0-1, Johnson 0-1, Iati 2-11, Knotts 0-2; Maine (6-29): Campbell 1-5, Dobson 0-1, Reed 3-8, Markwood 0-3, Hadjisotirov 0-4, Petkus 2-8
Attendance: 1,646
Comments
comments for this post are closed