UM men shut down Albany, win 5th straight

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ALBANY, N.Y. – The University of Maine men’s basketball team made have had some offensive struggles Saturday afternoon, but their defense was superb.

The Black Bears stifled Albany, holding the hosts to 27 percent shooting, while grinding out a 48-36 America East victory.

It was the fifth consecutive win for coach John Giannini’s UMaine team, which improved to 16-7 overall, 10-4 in conference play.

Defense was the difference.

“We were outstanding defensively,” said Giannini, who lauded Chris Markwood of South Portland for his effort guarding Levi Levine, Albany’s leading scorer, and holding him to two points on 1-for-9 shooting.

“Chris Markwood had one of the best defensive performances I’ve ever had a team member put forth,” Giannini said. “He dominated the game defensively. He was so good, I really couldn’t take him out.”

Albany (4-19, 2-12 AE) was held to 26.8 percent shooting and its lowest scoring total since 1973.

Freddy Petkus scored 12 points and Mark Flavin added 10 points and eight rebounds for the Bears, who survived a scoring drought of nearly seven minutes by outscoring the hosts 19-6 over the last eight minutes.

Eric Dobson contributed nine points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals for UMaine.

Albany rallied from an 11-point first-half deficit to take a 30-29 lead. Jon Iati (12 points) hit a jumper from left of the lane to put his team ahead for the first time with 10:45 remaining.

The Bears answered with an 8-0 run to take the lead for good. Markwood hit a follow shot off a missed jumper and Ludmil “Udo” Hadjisotirov nailed a 3-pointer. Flavin then converted a conventional three-point play to give Maine a 37-30 advantage with 4:22 left.

Petkus went 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the final two minutes.

“We did struggle offensively,” Giannini said. “We are not clicking the way we would like to offensively.”

UMaine was without the services of junior forward Joe Campbell of Bangor, who sustained a bloody nose early in the second half of Wednesday night’s home game against New Hampshire.

Aquawasi St. Hillaire added 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Great Danes.

BLACK BEARS 48, GREAT DANES 36

Maine (16-7) Albany (4-19)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Petkus 2 3 6 6 12 Levine 1 9 2

Flavin 3 7 4 5 10 St. Hillaire 4 13 2 2 10

Dobson 3 11 3 3 9 Wyatt 2 4 4

Reed 1 10 1 2 3 Johnson 2 7 1 6

Markwood 2 8 2 2 7 Iati 5 19 12

Hadjisotirov 2 4 0 0 6 Knotts 1 4 2

Dubois 0 1 1 2 1

Totals 13 44 17 20 48 Totals 15 56 36

Maine 24 48

Albany 18 36

3-pt. goals ? Maine (5-12): Petkus 2-2, Dobson 0-2, Reed 0-1, Markwood 1-4, Hadjisotirov 2-3; Albany (3-11): Levine 0-2, Johnson 1-2, Iati 2-7

Attendance: 681