BIDDEFORD, Maine - The University of Maine at Farmington and the University of New England men's basketball teams each shot the lights out on Wednesday evening in a non-conference battle in Biddeford. The Beavers shot 51.4% (37-72) while the Nor'Easters shot 50.73% (37-73) from the field as the Beavers dropped their first game of the season, 99-96.
The Beavers were able to jump out to an early lead, going on a quick 7-0 run in the opening two minutes of the game. The early run was sparked by Ethan Forrester (Colorado Springs, Colo.) who scored the first five points of the game. Tonight marked the first start in a Beaver uniform for Forrester.
The Nor'Easters were able to claw their way back to even with just under 12 minutes to play in the opening half at 15 apiece. The ensuing seven minutes of the game belonged entirely to Farmington who used a 27-16 spurt to take an 11-point lead. The Beavers used efficient three-point shooting from Dylan Griffin (Saco, Maine) and Jason Reynolds (Winslow, Maine) to help build the lead. Griffin and Reynolds each went 2-2 from beyond the arc during the stretch while Will Harriman (Biddeford, Maine) also knocked down a long ball to help the Beavers open up their largest lead of the game.
The Beaver lead did not last as the Nor'Easters closed the half on a 19-7 run to take a one-point lead into halftime. Jayden Thornton and Adrian Torres had big 1st halves for UNE as Thornton tallied 15 points, canning four threes while Torres added 13 points on an efficient 6-9 from the field. The Beavers had three in double-figures after the first half. Griffin put up monster numbers, contributing 13 points on 4-5 shooting, including 3-3 from beyond the arc, six assists and five rebounds. Harriman added 10 points and Reynolds pitched in with 11 points and six boards while shooting a perfect 4-4 from the field.
The opening six minutes of the 2nd half belonged to the Nor'Easters who were able to extend their lead up to nine behind 11 points from Adam Lux. The Beavers quickly responded. Trailing 68-59 with 14:24 to play, the Beavers used an 11-2 run to knot the game back up at 70 with just under 12 minutes to play in the game.
Over the course of the final 12 minutes there were six ties and ten lead changes as the team continued to go back at one another on the offensive end with neither team extending a lead out beyond five points.
The Beavers looked to have regained momentum in their favor inside the final four minutes after another Griffin three and an outstanding individual stretch from first-year Brock Flagg (Brewer, Maine). After the Griffin three cut the Beaver deficit to just one, Flagg got into the paint on back to back possessions converting an and-one opportunity on the first and getting back to the free throw line where he hit one of two on the second to help the Beavers secure a three-point lead.
But once again the Nor'Easters had an answer. This time Dylan Crowley hit a layup, got fouled and hit the free throw to knot the game up at 92 apiece. On the ensuing Beaver possession, Griffin hit a layup but was quickly matched by a Torres layup of his own to re-tie the game.
After a couple of scoreless possessions both way, Thornton was fouled shooting a three with just over two minutes to play. He hit all three free throws to give UNE the lead. Kyle Lombardi hit a pair of free throws on the following Nor'Easter possession, extending the UNE lead to five.
After the Beavers had gone scoreless for a 2:30 stretch, Zachary Mickle (Billerica, Mass.) got fouled and hit both free throws with 43 seconds to go to make it a one possession game at 99-96. The Beavers then followed Mickle's free throws with an important defensive stop on the other end to keep it a one possession game. After Jordan Anthony (Farmington, Conn.) secured the missed shot, Farmington had the ball with a chance to tie and send the game into overtime with 20 seconds left to play. After a timeout, Mickle missed a side-step three at the Buzzer as the Nor'Easters were able to hold on down the stretch.
The Beavers dropped to 3-1 in the early season while UNE is now 3-1 as well.
Six Beavers finished in double-figures led by Griffin who finished with a team-high 20 points on 7-9 shooting including 4-4 from three-point range. Griffin also added eight rebounds and eight assists. Harriman and Anthony each pitched in with 14 points apiece. Reynolds finished with his first collegiate double-double totaling 13 points and ten boards. Flagg added 12 points and Forrester scored 10 points in just nine minutes.
UNE had five players in double-figures led by Torres who tallied a game-high 25 and Thornton who finished with 24.
UP NEXT
The Beavers head to Brunswick, Maine on Saturday afternoon to take on Bowdoin College in a non-conference battle scheduled for 12 PM.
