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Men's Basketball Falls at UMBC
Jan. 22, 2006 BALTIMORE, Md.-- Rashard Turner (Peekskill, N.Y.) hit six three-point field goals in the first half, but it was not enough as the University of Maine men's basketball team fell to UMBC 83-62 on Sunday afternoon in Baltimore, Md. The Black Bears fall to 7-11 on the season and 2-5 in America East play, while UMBC improves 7-10 overall and 3-3 in conference play. Maine jumped out to a 6-4 lead behind a pair of three-point field goals, one each from Rashard Turner and Jon Sheets (Grass Valley, Calif.). The Retrievers went on a 5-0 run to pull ahead 9-6. UMBC would extend its lead to 13-8 before Ernest Turner (Camden, N.J.) stopped the UMBC run with a three-point field goal. Maine pulled to within one point, 14-15 on a Philippe Tchekane Bofia (Yaounde, Cameroon) free throw with 11:47 remaining in the first half. The Retrievers used a 11-0 run to build a 26-14 lead. Rashard Turner snapped the run when he drained his second three-point field goal of the game. The Retrievers used a balanced scoring attack to continue to add to their lead late in the first half. Rashard Turner kept Maine in the game with his three-point shooting. He had six in the first half and four in the last 6:14 of the half to pull Maine to within two points at the half, 34-36. He hit his final three of the half on a desperation shot at the buzzer that bounced off the rim several times. Rashard Turner led Maine with 18 in the first half. He was six-of-seven from behind the three-point arc. Ernest Turner added eight points for the Black Bears. UMBC used balanced scoring in the first half as all starters had at least five points at halftime, but none had more than six. The Retrievers used two subs in the first half and each of them had four points.
Maine tied the game on the first possession of the first half when Tchekane Bofia scored on a layup. The Retrievers took a lead once again, but Maine continued to answer. Maine took a 50-48 lead when Freddy Petkus (Plunge, Lithuania) drained a three-point field goal with 13:19 remaining in the game. For the Black Bears, it was their 10th three-point field goal of the game, one shy of their season high. UMBC countered with a 5-0 with all five points coming via John Zito. Maine tied the game once again at 53-53 when Olli Ahvenniemi (Vaasa, Finland) scored a conventional three-point play. Petkus tied the game at 60-60, but the Retrievers pushed ahead after a jumper by Jay Greene and a three by Brian Hodges. The Retrievers then scored five straight points to take a 70-62 lead with 5:09 remaining. The Retrievers continued to extend their lead the rest of the game. Maine was led by Rashard Turner who finished with 18 points, all on three-pointers in the first half. Ernest Turner added 14 points, while Freddy Petkus chipped in with eight for the Black Bears. Tchekane Bofia led Maine with 10 rebounds. The Black Bears shot 41 percent in the game. Maine tied its season-high with 11 three-point field goals. The Black Bears return home on Wednesday, January 25 when they host Stony Brook at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 581-BEAR or at the door. |
