Terriers Fall to Maine, 69-59

Wednesday, December 10

Boston, MA

7 PM

Boston University

4-7,0-0Patriot

Maine

1-11,0-0America East

Maine

Boston U.

Photo by: Dan Koerner

December 10, 2025 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Highlights Coach Jones Postgame

BOSTON – Despite sophomore Ben Defty earning his second career double-double, the Boston University men's basketball team fell to Maine, 69-59, on Wednesday night at Case Gym.

The Black Bears (1-11) finished the game shooting 25-for-46 (.543) and held the Terriers (4-7) to 35.7 percent. Down by as many as 11 late during the final minute of the first half, BU rallied to tie the game at 16:27 in the second, 37-37, but was unable to grab the lead with multiple missed 3-point attempts and free throws over the following minute.

Defty led all players with 19 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, while junior Michael McNair totaled 12 points, career-tying eight rebounds and three assists. Freshman Sam Hughes added three buckets from behind the arc to spark the early second half rally, and graduate student Malcolm Chimezie added six rebounds to help BU outscore Maine in second-chance points, 16-2.

Three Black Bears finished in double figures with TJ Biel earning 17 points, while Logan Carey posted 14 points, three assists and two steals. Mekhi Gray added added 10 points, and Keelan Steele nearly had a double-double with eight points and seven rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Biel hit a pair of 3-pointers over the first three minutes to grab an 8-2 lead.
McNair and senior Ben Roy both struck from behind the arc to help the Terriers pull within two (12-10) at 15:19, but the Black Bears reeled off seven straight points capped by Biel's turnaround jumper with 12:37 left in the half.
Freshman Donte Tisinger Jr. responded with three free throws after fouled attempting a 3-pointer and Defty scored four straight to again cut the deficit to two.
Maine struck back with eight straight points and would enter the locker room leading, 33-24.
Hughes opened the second half with three treys as part of an 11-2 run to tie the game, 35-35, at 16:27.
Maine though quickly hit two free throws to grab the lead for good, as BU missed two 3-point attempts on its next possession and two free throws on the following possession facing a two-point deficit.
Roy flushed another 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 41-38 at 13:48, but Maine responded right back with a 3-pointer.
Holding a 57-50 lead with 5:34 left following Defty's two free throws, the Black Bears scored three straight buckets in the paint over the next 3:30 to pull away.

GAME NOTES

Defty's 19 points were one shy of tying his personal best set during the season-opening win at Northeastern, and his 11 rebounds edged his previous high of 10 recorded at Columbia.
McNair's eight rebounds matched his career high recorded last season against Colgate and this past Saturday at New Hampshire.
Hughes netted at least three 3-pointers for the sixth time this season, while McNair accomplished the feat for the ninth time.
Freshman Chance Gladden (10.8 ppg, 3.7 apg) missed his first game due to injury, now leaving just four Terriers who have seen action in all 11 contests.
Maine went 12-for-15 (.800) from the charity stripe, while the Terriers finished 10-for-16 (.625).
Outscored by six points (14-8), BU's bench was unable to reach double digits for just the second time this season after scoring four at Columbia.

UP NEXT

BU will visit Dartmouth on Saturday (Dec. 13) for a 2 p.m. tip.
Though the Big Green lead the all-time series, 23-11, BU is 4-2 since the two programs renewed the rivalry in 2018 after previously facing off in 2002.
The Terriers cruised to a 78-50 win at Case Gym last season after dropping a 63-54 decision at Dartmouth in 2023.