LEE, N.H. (Interstat) — Mekhi Gray scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Maine to a 61-58 victory over New Hampshire in an America East Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Lundholm Gym. The Black Bears, who avenged a loss to the Wildcats from last month, used a disruptive defense to secure the road win. Maine forced 13 turnovers, converting them into 15 points, and held New Hampshire to 37% shooting from the floor. Belal El Shakery posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats. Logan Carey added 16 points for Maine, which improved to 7-20. New Hampshire fell to 8-18.

LEE, N.H. (Interstat) — Mekhi Gray scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and the Maine Black Bears survived a late rally to edge the New Hampshire Wildcats 61-58 in an America East Conference men’s basketball game on Saturday at Lundholm Gym. In a defensive struggle defined by poor shooting, the Black Bears snapped a two-game skid and avenged a 17-point loss to the Wildcats just over a month ago. Maine improved to 7-20 overall, while New Hampshire fell to 8-18. The most critical sequence unfolded in the final minute with Maine clinging to a one-point lead. After a missed free throw by Maine’s Caleb Crawford with 26 seconds left, New Hampshire secured the rebound and called timeout, trailing 59-58. Out of the stoppage, the Wildcats’ KiJan Robinson was stripped by Maine’s Ace Flagg on the perimeter. Flagg was fouled and hit two free throws to extend the lead to 61-58 with nine seconds remaining. New Hampshire’s final attempt to tie, a rushed three-pointer by Tyler Bike as time expired, missed everything, sealing the road victory for the Black Bears. Neither team found an offensive rhythm. Maine shot 44.4% from the field but was just 4 of 19 from three-point range. New Hampshire was colder, finishing at 37% overall and 9 of 32 from beyond the arc. The Wildcats’ offensive rating of 85.8 points per 100 possessions underscored their struggles. Maine’s defense was the catalyst, forcing 13 turnovers which they converted into 15 points. They also held a significant edge in fastbreak points, 11-2, and points in the paint, 30-22. The Black Bears’ nine steals, led by three from Caleb Crawford, disrupted New Hampshire’s flow throughout. Gray, a 6-foot-4 guard from Montrose, New York, led Maine with his 16-point, nine-rebound performance, adding two steals. He was supported by Logan Carey, who also scored 16 points, and Ace Flagg, who added 15 points off the bench, including several key baskets down the stretch. New Hampshire was led by Belal El Shakery’s double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Tyler Bike scored 15 points, and Davide Poser added 11, but the Wildcats’ offense sputtered when it mattered most. They managed only four assists as a team and were outscored 15-5 off turnovers. The game was a stark contrast to the pregame expectations, where New Hampshire was favored by 3.5 points and projected to win with a 60.6% probability according to National Statistical’s ELO system. The combined score of 119 points fell well under the over/under line of 135. Maine built its largest lead at nine points early in the second half before New Hampshire mounted a comeback, fueled by three-pointers from Bike and Poser. The Wildcats briefly took the lead, but could never sustain momentum, with missed shots and untimely giveaways plaguing their efforts. The win provides a positive note for Maine as they head into the final stretch of the regular season. They travel to face Albany on Thursday. New Hampshire, meanwhile, looks to regroup on the road at Binghamton, also on Thursday.

Preview: Maine Black Bears at New Hampshire Wildcats LEE, N.H. (Interstat) — Two America East men’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Saturday when the New Hampshire Wildcats host the Maine Black Bears at Lundholm Gym. Both squads enter the contest on losing streaks. The visiting Black Bears (6-20) have dropped three straight, most recently a 58-67 home loss to NJIT on Feb. 14. The Wildcats (8-17) have lost four consecutive games, including a 56-78 defeat at Massachusetts-Lowell on Thursday. New Hampshire won the season’s first meeting handily, 65-48, in Orono on Jan. 19. Maine will look to junior guard Logan Carey to spark its offense. Carey is coming off a 20-point, 7-rebound performance against NJIT and has scored 16 or more points in three of his last six outings, including a 28-point effort at UMass Lowell on Jan. 31. His consistency will be key for a Black Bears team that has struggled to find scoring depth. The Wildcats counter with sophomore forward Belal El Shakery, who posted 16 points in the loss to UMass Lowell. He has been a steady presence, averaging 10.3 points over his last seven games and recording a 14-rebound performance against UMBC on Feb. 14. His activity on both ends will be crucial for New Hampshire. Despite their records, both teams have shown an ability to compete within the conference. Maine earned a notable 76-70 victory over Vermont on Feb. 5, while New Hampshire secured a triple-overtime win over Binghamton on Jan. 22 and a home win over UMass Lowell on Jan. 29. The matchup pits Maine’s search for a road win against a New Hampshire team desperate to defend its home court and halt its skid. With the America East tournament approaching, Saturday’s game represents a critical opportunity for either team to build confidence and improve its seeding. Following this game, Maine will visit Albany on Feb. 26. New Hampshire travels to Binghamton on the same date.