The Black Bears kept it interesting until the final whistle, but the University of Maine men’s basketball team ultimately came up just short in a 65-61 loss to Vermont Saturday afternoon in Orono.
The Catamounts now account for two of Maine’s three losses in America East Conference play, dropping the Black Bears to 8-3 in the conference and 16-10 overall. Vermont also got the better of Maine in a 55-49 contest on Feb. 1.
Maine and Vermont both now sit at 8-3 in America East, behind 11-1 conference leader Bryant University.
Long-range shooting from TJ Hurley led the attack for Vermont, and he led all scorers with 24 points.
Graduate student guard Kellen Tynes had 19 for Maine, and senior guard Quion Burns added 16 for the Black Bears.
Every time it seemed that Vermont was pulling away, including with multiple 13-point leads over the course of the game, Maine would chip away and battle back.
Maine trailed 28-22 at halftime, and Vermont went on a 6-0 run to start the second half. The Catamount lead stretched to 16, but a 3-pointer from Burns and two more from senior Christopher Mantis brought the game back in reach for the Black Bears.
But Vermont’s shooting was enough down the stretch to eke out a win. A Jaden Clayton three for Maine cut the Vermont lead to four with seventh second left. The Black Bears ran out of time as they looked to complete the comeback.
Maine will be back in action on Thursday at Albany, and Vermont will play Bryant on Thursday at home.
