ORONO, Maine — In an exciting quarterfinal matchup of the America East Conference Tournament, Kellen Tynes led the Maine Black Bears to a 72-64 victory over UMass-Lowell, scoring 20 points in the process.
The win propels third-seeded Maine to the semifinal round where they will face the second-seed Vermont team on the upcoming Tuesday.
Tynes contributed significantly to the overall performance of the Black Bears, not only with his scoring bonus but also by securing five rebounds, dishing out six assists, and making three steals. His teammate, Jaden Clayton, added to the effort with 16 points, shooting 7 for 14 from the field and 2 for 4 from the free-throw line, while also pocketing three steals. AJ Lopez showed his mettle by hitting 6 of his 10 shots, including one three-pointer out of four attempts, and converting 3 of 4 free throws, ending the game with 16 points.
On the other side of the court, the sixth-seed UMass-Lowell River Hawks were spearheaded by Max Brooks, who accumulated an impressive 25 points to go along with 10 rebounds and two blocks. Quinton Mincey supported the River Hawks’ cause with 23 points and six rebounds, while Martin Somerville contributed six points.
Maine seized the advantage late in the first half at the 7:58 mark and never surrendered it thereafter. During the opening half, Quion Burns proved instrumental by scoring eight points, which aided the Black Bears in establishing a 34-29 edge at halftime. A crucial 7-0 surge in the second half expanded Maine’s lead to 13 points at 66-53 with 4:39 remaining in the game, eventually allowing them to close out the victory securely.
