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Men's Basketball Wins Big
Dec. 1, 2007
ORONO, Maine-- The University of Maine men's basketball team downed the New Jersey Institute of Technology Saturday afternoon by a score of 86-58. With the win, Maine improves to 4-4, while N.J.I.T. falls to 0-8. Junior Bernal (Manhattan, New York) led the Black Bears with a game-high 19 points, four rebounds and three assists. The Highlanders from N.J.I.T. were led by Nesho Milosevic (Bar, Montenegro) with 18 points and 16 rebounds. The Black Bears got off to a fast start as Brian Andre (Bingham, Maine) found Bernal cutting towards the basket for a layup less than 20 seconds into the game. The Black Bears displayed their usual hustle and annoying defense all game long, causing the Highlanders into 14 first half turnovers and swatting four blocked shots. Jordan Cook (Hampden, Maine) had a big role in the defense, blocking three shots for a career-high, and also adding a steal and four points in the first half. Maine opened up a 25-to-10 lead with eight minutes left in the first half when Bernal cut to the basket and made a layup. Despite the Highlanders constantly pressing, the Black Bears always found a way to break it, and get good looks at the basket. Troy Barnies (Auburn, Maine), in his first college game due to being sidelined with an injury, had three points, three rebounds and two assists in his first half of action. The second half was much the same as Maine dominated every facet of the game. Barnies emphasized his first appearance in a collegiate game with a powerful one-handed dunk that left the whole hoop shaking with 11 minutes to go in the game. Not to be outdone, Bernal added a nice one-handed dunk on a breakaway two minutes later. The Black Bears forced the Highlanders into 10 second half turnovers, while keeping the ball in their own hands with only four second half turnovers.
Although New Jersey Tech got within 16 points with a little over 10 minutes to play, Maine put the game out of reach with a 13-to-2 run to push the lead to 27 on another Bernal layup with just over eight minutes to go in the game. Barnies finished with seven points, eight rebounds, three steals and two assists for a nice all-around collegiate debut. Cook finished with eight points to go along with three rebounds and three blocks. Malachi Peay (Queens, New York) also made his Black Bear debut and put in four points in four minutes of game time. The scariest moment of the game for the Black Bears came when sophomore guard Mark Socoby (Houlton, Maine) got hit in the face. Although there was some blood, Socoby shrugged it off and was on the bench ready to come back into the game. The Black Bears shot a blistering 52 percent from the field on 30-of-58 shooting while holding New Jersey Tech to only 28 percent shooting. The rebounds were an even 39 per team. The Black Bears return home on Saturday, December 15, for a 2pm game against Mt. St. Mary's. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling 581-BEAR or toll free (800) 756-TEAM. -U-M- |
