Men's basketball players huddle prior to the starting lineup announcement at UMass Lowell.

Men's Basketball to End Non-Conference Slate at Maine Sunday Afternoon

December 28, 2024

Boston University (5-7) at Maine (8-6)
Date & Time: Sunday, Dec. 29 | 2 p.m.
Venue: The Pit in Memorial Gymnasium | Orono, Maine
Twitter: @BUGameDay | @TerrierMBB

BOSTON – Concluding the non-conference schedule, the Boston University men's basketball team will visit Maine on Sunday with tip-off slated for 2 p.m.

The Terriers and Black Bears are meeting for the 104th time in a series that dates back to 1902-03 with BU making its first road trip in seven years. Overall, BU is 2-1 against America East opponents following wins over UAlbany and UMBC alongside a loss at UMass Lowell. Maine will face its third Patriot League opponent following an 80-55 home win over Holy Cross and 71-66 victory vs. Navy in a tournament hosted by Penn.

TERRIER TIDBITS
  • Through 12 games, BU has already utilized five different starting lineups due to injury after using five total lineups a year prior.
  • BU is 0-2 on the current road trip with 64-61 loss at Merrimack and 83-71 defeat at UMass Lowell. The Terriers overall are 2-4 in contests away from home thanks to a pair of wins at the UMBC multi-team event against the host Retrievers and defending MEAC champion Howard.
  • Sophomore Kyrone Alexander (13.3 ppg) and graduate student Miles Brewster (10.6 ppg) the only two Terriers averaging double-figure points. The duo have combined for 4.3 apg and 2.8 spg.
  • Three different Terriers have dished out a season-high seven assists in a game this season with junior Otto Landrum the last to accomplish the feat at Merrimack.
  • Senior Malcolm Chimezie (8.8 ppg) has scored double digits in back-to-back games for the first time in his career thanks to combining for 26 points over the last two contests.
  • Chimezie is shooting 61.8 FG%, while freshman Ben Defty (5.1 ppg) is shooting 65.9 FG%.
  • The Terriers have been unlucky at the free throw line, shooting 64.3 FG% with opponents shooting 77.2 FG%. Opponents though are only averaging 0.7 more made free throws per game (11.8-11.1).
  • As a team, BU is averaging 70.2 ppg and 44.8 FG% while holding opponents to 69.8 FG% and 44.1 FG%. 
SCOUTING MAINE
  • The Black Bears are on a seven-game home win streak thanks to wins this year against Holy Cross, Univ. of Maine at Fort Kent (98-47) and Univ. of Maine at Augusta (103-51).
  • Besides the two wins over PL competition, Maine owns notable non-conference victories at Brown (69-67), Canisius (84-79) and Duquesne (61-56).
  • Maine's defense is averaging 9.2 steals per game and helping the offense averaging 17.2 pts. off turnovers with opponents averaging just 12.1 ppg off the Black Bears' miscues.
  • Former UNH transfer and guard AJ Lopez is one of three Black Bears averaging double-figure points at 13.9 ppg, while LIU transfer and guard Quion Burns is second at 12.7 ppg with a team-high 6.4 rpg.
  • Montana State transfer and guard Kellen Tynes (12.3 ppg) leads Maine in both assists (4.9 apg) and steals (3.1 spg).
  • The Black Bears are averaging 73.3 ppg and 46.6 FG% while holding opponents to 67.1 ppg and 42.2 FG%. 
SERIES HISTORY
  • BU owns a 61-42 series lead following Maine's 74-65 win at Case Gym in 2023.
  • In the contest, the Black Bears shot 51.0 FG% and held BU to 46.2 FG%. The Terriers hurt their cause by shooting 10-for-19 (.526) at the charity stripe.
  • BU won the last meeting at Maine in 2017 with a 78-69 decision.
LOOKING AHEAD
  • BU will open 2025 and Patriot League play at Lafayette on Thursday (Jan. 2) at 7 p.m.
  • The Terriers are 7-3 over the last 10 meetings after both road teams won last season for the split.
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