Feb. 20, 2008

Box Score

BOSTON - Behind offense from freshman guard/forward John Holland (Bronx, N.Y.) and sophomore guard Corey Lowe (Newton, Mass.) and a strong team defense, the Boston University men's basketball team easily defeated Maine, 73-54, Wednesday evening in Case Gym. Holland scored 23 points to lead the Terriers (11-15, 8-6 America East), while Lowe had 18 points and a career-high nine assists.

BU limited Maine (7-19, 3-10 AE) to 4-for-18 (22.2 percent) shooting in the first half, forcing the Black Bears to score half of their 18 first-half points on free throws. The Terriers built as many as a 31-point advantage in the second half, and their lead didn't dip below 20 points until the final 20 seconds of the game.

Holland scored his points on 10-of-17 shooting, adding four assists and tying his career high with six steals. Lowe shot 7-for-13, including 4-of-8 from three and added a block and a steal. Sophomore guard Carlos Strong (Portland, Maine) came off the bench to contribute 10 points in his first game back from injury.

Brian Andre was Maine's leading scorer with 12 points followed by Mark Socoby with 11. Holland and Andre were named the America East Players of the Game.

BU jumped out to an 11-0 lead at 16:26 in the first on back-to-back threes from Holland and Lowe. The Terriers forced Maine into three turnovers in the Black Bears' first five possessions. Turnovers plagued Maine all game, as UM committed 15 in the first half and 22 for the game. BU scored 23 points off those miscues and out-scored the Black Bears 20-2 on the fast break.

The Terriers held a 42-18 lead at the break and took their largest lead of the game, 52-21 at 18:16 in the second, on one of Holland's four dunks. BU out-scored Maine 40-22 in the paint for the game and posted a season-high 20 assists and 14 steals.

Boston University returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 23 when BU plays St. Peter's at 2 p.m. in New Jersey in the Terriers' final non-conference game of the season.