HAMILTON, N.Y. – The University of Maine got off to a slow start Wednesday night, then experienced shooting woes and turnover problems as Colgate posted a 70-62 men’s basketball victory over the Black Bears at Cotterell Court.

Coach Ted Woodward’s UMaine team (4-9) dropped its fifth consecutive decision while playing the third of five straight games on the road.

Colgate (8-5) outscored the Bears 25-16 from the foul line and scored 21 points off UMaine’s turnovers. The Red Raiders’ three losses have come against Penn State, Syracuse and Notre Dame.

“They’re very solid,” Woodward said. “They have four senior starters and a junior starter. They’re physical across the board and they have good depth.”

Houlton native Mark Socoby, a sophomore guard, set the pace for UMaine with a game-high 22 points, including four 3-pointers. Junior guard Junior Bernal tossed in 18 points and grabbed five rebounds.

Phil Tchekane Bofia added nine points for the Bears, who shot 40 percent from the field but managed only nine assists in the contest.

“Mark Socoby’s playing well right now, which is huge,” Woodward said. “I feel like he’s in a good, confident flow again.”

Kyle Roemer paced Colgate with 17 points, while Tim Pounds posted 143 points and Kendall Chones added 11. Alex Woodhouse made three of the hosts’ 12 steals.

The Bears, who never led in the game, were challenged by having to play from behind all evening. Roemer and Mike Venezia each nailed a 3-pointer as Colgate outscored UMaine 12-4 over the first 7:07.

“We really wanted to get off to a good start defensively,” Woodward said. “Unfortunately, we put ourselves in a hole the first six or seven minutes of the game and spent the rest of the game trying to climb out of it.”

Trailing by seven at intermission, Socoby hit a 3-pointer and Jordan Cook of Hampden scored from inside off a Brian Andre pass during a 5-1 run that got UMaine within 34-33 with 18:30 to play.

The Bears continued their strong defense for a while longer, but failed to score on three consecutive possessions, missing four shots and committing two turnovers during a key stretch.

Colgate finally broke its scoring drought while putting together a 7-0 run that put the Red Raiders ahead 41-33 with 15:07 to play.

“When times got tough, they were able to step up and make a play,” Woodward said of the hosts. “You’ve got to get over that hump, that tie score. There are certain times in a game when you’ve got to make a play and we just didn’t do that.”

UMaine was unable to get closer than four points the rest of the way.

Junior transfer Kiamondre Owens, who scored 21 points Monday in his UMaine debut at Canisius, was held scoreless. Senior center Brian Andre managed three points and three rebounds but fouled out in 26 minutes of action.

The Bears trailed 33-26 at halftime after struggling at the offensive end.

UMaine committed 14 turnovers, which resulted in 14 Colgate points, and wound up shooting only 39 percent from the field (9-for-23).

The hosts connected at a 52 percent clip, led by Pounds’ eight points, to help overcome the Bears’ 18-11 rebounding edge.

Colgate had built a 25-12 advantage through 14 minutes, but UMaine manufactured a 9-2 run that got it back within 27-21 with 3:40 left in the half.

Bernal led the way for the Bears with 10 points in the half, while Socoby added seven.

UMaine opens America East play Sunday with a 2 p.m. game at Stony Brook on Long Island.

RED RAIDERS 70, BLACK BEARS 62

Maine (4-9) Colgate (8-5)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Cook 1 2 4 4 6 Woodhse 1 3 2 4

Andre 1 2 0 0 3 Chones 5 5 11

Bernal 8 13 2 6 18 Pounds 5 6 14

Owes 0 4 0 0 0 Roemer 5 14 5 17

Socoby 5 14 8 10 22 Waddy 0 3 14 9

Barnies 0 1 0 0 0 Vinson 0 0 0

Hight 1 1 0 0 2 Venezia 2 8 6

McNally 0 4 2 2 2 Guller 0 0 0

Costigan 0 0 0 0 0 Morse 0 3 1

Tchkn Bfia 4 9 0 0 9 Jonson 2 4 6

English 0 0 0 0

Minchella 1 1 2

Totals 20 50 16 22 62 Totals 21 47 25 35 70

Maine 26 62

Colgate 33 70

3-pt. goals – Maine (6-16): Andre 1-1, Owes 0-2, Socoby 4-9, Barnies 0-1, McNally 0-1, Tchekane Bofia 1-2; Colgate (3-14): Roemer 2-6, Waddy 0-2, Venezia 1-5, Morse 0-1

Attendance: 401