The University of Maine men’s basketball team delivered a dominant defensive performance to defeat Vermont, 57-42, in the America East Semifinals on Tuesday night. The victory, presented by Jersey Mike’s, marks a historic milestone for the Black Bears, who will compete for their first conference title since 2004.
Maine set the tone early with suffocating defense, holding the Catamounts to just eight points in the opening 10 minutes and 19 points overall in the first half. The Black Bears built a 13-point lead with 5:44 remaining in the half after a layup from Quion Burns, assisted by Logan Carey.
Christopher Mantis led all scorers at halftime with seven points, while Kellen Tynes contributed six points, three rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Maine’s defensive pressure forced Vermont into nine first-half turnovers while limiting them to just 25.9% shooting from the field.
Midway through the second half, Tynes made history by recording his 103rd steal of the season, surpassing Craig Claxton’s single-season program record of 102.
Maine maintained control throughout the game, never allowing Vermont to close the gap. Tynes finished with a stellar all-around performance, registering his second double-double of the season with 13 points, 13 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks. AJ Lopez led the scoring for the Black Bears with 14 points.
The Black Bears’ defense was relentless, holding Vermont to just 25.59% shooting for the game and forcing 17 total turnovers. The win also ended Maine’s 30-game losing streak against Vermont, a drought that dated back to 2013.
Maine (20-13) will now play for the America East Championship on Saturday, March 15, at 11 a.m. The Black Bears will host the title game if fourth-seeded UAlbany wins its semifinal matchup against top-seeded Bryant. However, if Bryant emerges victorious, Maine will travel for the championship showdown.
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