The Men’s Basketball team from the University of Maine achieved a decisive victory against South Florida on Wednesday evening, emerging triumphant with a final score of 70-59. The match began explosively, with the Black Bears taking a commanding 12-4 lead within the first five minutes. Ja’Shonté Wright-McLeish played a crucial role in this early dominance, demonstrating his skills with eight points, including two impressive three-pointers. However, South Florida quickly responded with an 8-0 run, bringing the score to a tie at 12-12.
Undeterred by the opposition’s resurgence, the Black Bears responded with a strong 12-1 run, extending their lead to 24-13 with 9:19 remaining in the first half. Despite South Florida’s efforts to narrow the gap with a 9-2 run before halftime, the Black Bears maintained a slender two-point lead at 31-29. Notable performances in the first half included Peter Filipovity’s exceptional display, contributing a game-high 11 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Wright-McLeish added eight points, while Jaden Clayton and Kellen Tynes collectively contributed seven assists.
The second half began with a burst of energy from the Black Bears, securing a 7-0 run in the opening two minutes and reclaiming a nine-point lead. This momentum carried into the rest of the game, with Maine achieving their largest lead of 13 points with 14:46 left on the clock following a decisive layup by Clayton. Maintaining their dominance, the Black Bears ultimately sealed their victory with a commendable scoreline of 70-59.
An outstanding player of the match, Peter Filipovity, delivered an exceptional performance, amassing a career-high of 22 points (9-for-16) and demonstrating exceptional play on the court with 11 rebounds, achieving a remarkable double-double effort. Additionally, Wright-McLeish contributed 16 points, followed by Clayton with 12, solidifying their positions as the top three scorers for the Black Bears.
The Black Bears’ unwavering determination was evident as they never trailed throughout the contest, compelling South Florida into 11 turnovers and limiting their shooting success to just 35.4% from the field, and a mere 10% (2-for-20) from three-point range. Looking ahead, Maine (4-3) is set to face Columbia on Saturday, November 25th, with tip-off scheduled for 1 P.M.
-University of Maine-