The University of Maine basketball team picked up the win over New Hampshire in the Buffalo Wild Wings Border Battle on Saturday afternoon, 61-58.
After the Black Bears jumped on to an early five-point lead, the Wild Cats flipped the score, taking as high as an eight-point advantage in the opening 12 minutes of the contest.
The Black Bears responded with a 10-0 run as they took a 25-23 lead into the final media timeout of the opening quarter.
The Black Bears closed out the first half on a 15-2 run over the final eight minutes of action to hold a 30-25 lead at halftime.
Logan Carey (9) and Ace Flagg (7) led the way in scoring in the first half.
Maine forced seven turnovers and held New Hampshire to just 35% shooting from the floor in the first half.
The two sides would get all squared up at 34-34 just a couple of minutes into the half and proceeded to be locked in a close contest all the way until the final horn as neither side was able to stake out larger than a six-point advantage in the half.
The Black Bears were able to retake the lead and hold on in the final minutes of the contest, coming away with the victory, 61-58.
The Black Bears clinched a spot in the America East Playoffs with the win.
Flagg scored a career-high 15 points in the win.
Carey and Mekhi Gray both had 16 points.
Maine forced 13 turnovers and held UNH to 37% shooting and 28% from behind-the-arc.
The Black Bears (7-21) head to New York for their next two games as they will take on UAlbany on Thursday, Feb. 26 and Binghamton on Saturday, Feb. 28. Tip-off on Thursday is set for 6:30 P.M.
