BIDDEFORD, Maine — The Maine Maritime Academy men's basketball team erased a 15-point second-half deficit and outscored the University of New England 36-31 after halftime to earn a hard-fought 70-68 nonconference victory Saturday evening at Coach Beaudry's Court.
The Mariners improved to 2-1 on the season behind a balanced offensive effort led by sophomore
Drew Hamilton, who poured in a game-high 18 points while adding four assists and a steal. Freshman
Immanuel Weaver provided a spark on both ends of the floor with 12 points, three assists and two steals, while junior
Carson Farnsley came off the bench to score 11 points on three 3-pointers.
Maine Maritime found itself trailing 49-38 with 15:50 remaining in the second half before mounting a decisive comeback. Farnsley knocked down consecutive three-pointers during a 12-2 run, and Hamilton followed with a three of his own to give the Mariners their first lead of the second half at 50-49 with 12:50 to play.
The Mariners' defense took over from there. Weaver converted a steal into a fast-break layup to cap a 14-0 surge that pushed Maine Maritime in front 56-51 with 8:37 remaining. The visitors forced five second-half turnovers and held UNE scoreless for nearly five minutes during the game-changing stretch.
Maine Maritime continued to answer every challenge down the stretch. Junior
Wade Hill finished with four points, four rebounds and two blocks, including a thunderous dunk and a key layup in the final six minutes. Junior
Gabe Hagar contributed six points, eight rebounds and four assists, while helping the Mariners control critical possessions late in the contest.
After UNE tied the game at 65-65 with just over two minutes remaining, Hill's layup and a short jumper from Weaver restored a four-point advantage. Weaver then came up with another defensive play, recording a steal and sinking two free throws with 27 seconds left to put Maine Maritime ahead by four.
The Nor'easters trimmed the margin to one on a late three-pointer, but Hagar converted a free throw with four seconds remaining and the Mariners secured the rebound on UNE's final possession to seal the victory.
Maine Maritime shot 45.9 percent from the floor, recorded 15 assists on 28 made baskets and committed just eight turnovers. The Mariners also received a major lift from their reserves, who outscored UNE's bench 34-13.
Hamilton led four Mariners in double figures or near double figures with 18 points, followed by Weaver's 12, Farnsley's 11 and freshman
Tyler McKnight's nine. Hagar's eight rebounds paced Maine Maritime on the glass.
The victory gives the Mariners their second win of the young season and showcases the resilience of a team that rallied from a double-digit road deficit to close out a dramatic nonconference win.
Maine Maritime returns to action at the Jim Beaudry Classic on Sunday against Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the championship beginning at 3 p.m.
