Auburn native Troy Barnies led Maine with 16 points and seven boards to lead the Black Bears to a 71-66 overtime win over Utah Valley University in the teams’ season-opening men’s basketball game in Utah on Friday night.
The Black Bears blew a three-point halftime lead, but outscored the Wolverines 13-8 in the overtime period to secure the victory. Raheem Singleton was next on the list for Maine with 15 points, while Malachi Peay added 13 for the Black Bears.
Geddes Robinson, Ben Aird and Jordan Swarbrick paced the Wolverines. Robinson led the way with 17, while his teammates hit for 16 apiece in the losing effort.
Maine continues its season on Sunday at 2 p.m. when it visits ACC powerhouse Maryland.
Men’s hockey
Maine 4, Northeastern 2
ORONO — Joey Diamond’s power-play goal with 10:09 remaining in the game broke a 2-2 tie and propelled the fifth-ranked University of Maine men’s ice hockey team to a 4-2 victory over Northeastern on Friday night at Alfond Arena.
Northeastern broke the scoreless tie 17:06 into the first period when Rob Dongara notched a power play goal for the Huskies. Garrett Vermeersch controlled the puck in the left corner for the Huskies. As Vermeersch skated with the puck, Maine goaltender Dan Sullivan stumbled while trying to get position on the left post. Vermeersch sent the puck to the center of the blue line where Wade McLeod unleashed a slap shot that was tipped in front by Dongara.
Maine opened the second period skating on the power play when Jeff Dimmen cashed in for his second goal of the season to tie things up at one goal a piece. Diamond would control the puck deep in the left circle. Diamond fired a pass that snuck through the slot and found Dimmen above the right circle. Dimmen unleashed a slap shot that hit the back of the net.
Northeastern would re-take the lead with a power-play goal of its own 13:12 into the second period. Mike Hewkin sent a slap shot at the Maine net that was kicked aside by Sullivan. However, Mike McLaughlin was in perfect position to put the rebound home once again giving the Huskies a one goal advantage, 2-1. The Black Bears would fight back to tie the game once again when Spencer Abbott notched his seventh goal of the season, 14:42 into the second period. Tanner House started the play when he slid a pass to Josh Van Dyk. Van Dyk rocketed a shot that was saved by Husky goaltender Chris Rawlings. The rebound would kick out to the left circle where Abbott was waiting. Abbott would light the lamp with a wrist shot that snuck past Rawlings tie the game
Diamond would give Maine its first lead of the night 9:51 into the third period while the Black Bears skated on the power play.
Brian Flynn controlled the puck for Maine, sending it around the boards to Adam Shemansky. Shemansky would look for an opening in front, make a move, and sent a beautiful, quick pass right in front to Diamond who one-timed the puck past Rawlings.
Gustav Nyquist added an empty net goal with 11 seconds remaining in the third period to lock up the win for the Black Bears. Abbott picked up his eighth assist of the season on the fourth goal for the Black Bears. With the point, Nyquist extends his scoring streak to 10 games, dating back to last season.
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