the Informer

GOBLACKBEARS.COM

With an overall record of 15-14, the University of Maine Black Bears men’s basketball team will enter the America East Conference Championships in third place.

Within the conference, their record is 9-6, while their non-conference games leave them with a disappointing record of 6-7. Though the team improved their points scored per game, this is seen as a bit of a regression after last season’s record of 19-11 (11-5 in the conference).

The Black Bears won against fellow American East contenders Stony Brook, Binghamton, Boston University and the University of New Hampshire but fell to the University of Hartford Hawks twice, and also to Albany. This season, the team was all-or-nothing; going from a four-game losing streak to a four-game winning streak, followed by a seven-game winning streak and a six game losing streak. After a tremendous January winning streak, the team lost their bearings and lost all but one game in the month of February.

When it comes to stats, the Black Bears lead the pack. They score an average of 3.1 points more than their opponents, allowing an average of 66.5 points per game and scoring an average of 69.6 points a game, leading the conference. They lead the conference in assists. They averaged about 13 assists per game, relying heavily on ball movement to keep their opponents guessing. The Bears are also first in field goals and assists per turnover with a .515 and 0.99, respectively.

Much of the team’s success depends on senior Troy Barnies (No. 15). The 6-foot-7 forward leads the team and is second in the division in assists with a grand total of 41. This season, he seriously stepped up his game, posting career highs in rebounds, assists and three-point percentage. Additionally, he improved his protection of the ball, cutting back on turnovers and creating opportunities for the team from steals. He lands in the top five in the conference for his average of 7.8 rebounds per game.

Despite a slight drop in his numbers from last year due to a cut in playing time, junior guard Gerald McLemore (No. 32) remains a powerful asset to the Black Bears. He has provided the team with an offensive spark, leading the team with 67 three-pointers made this season. He led the team in scoring last season as a sophomore and obviously has a very bright future in basketball. He is the second leading scorer on the team, trailing behind Barnies by 29 points. These two combined make up more than 40 percent of the total scoring done by Maine this season, which is rather impressive for only two players.

As the season draws to a close, the Black Bears will say goodbye to four senior players; Terrance Mitchell, Barnies, Sean McNally and Malachi Peav. They will have to look to younger players such as rising star McLemore and sophomore forward Travon Wilcher to possibly fill the gaps their matriculating teammates have left behind. Next season appears to be a rebuilding year, but they still possess some key skill players to keep them an offensive force in the America East Conference.