UMaine Basketball Eyes First NCAA Tournament in Two Decades

PORTLAND, Maine – The University of Maine men’s basketball team is poised to make history as they aim for their first NCAA tournament appearance in over 20 years.

This Saturday, they will face Bryant University in the America East championship game at 11 a.m. The Black Bears advanced to this pivotal contest after defeating the Vermont Catamounts, 57-42, on Tuesday, marking their first win over Vermont in 12 years.

Graduate student guard Kellen Tynes led the team in the semifinal with a notable performance, recording 13 points, 13 rebounds, and adding to the defensive effort that saw Vermont’s shooting percentage fall below 26 percent. Tynes was proud of the team’s resilience in a challenging environment. “But we know we’ve got one more,” Tynes said, referring to the imminent championship match.

Coach Chris Markwood, who played on the last Maine team to reach the America East final in 2004, is mindful of the significance of Saturday’s game but is focused on the present. “You’ve got to stay locked into the details,” he explained during a press conference. “Everybody around us is going to be focused on the result… But we’ve got to try to hunker down and block that out.”

Despite the current optimism surrounding the Black Bears, Saturday’s game against the No. 1 Bulldogs will be a challenge. The Bulldogs have defeated Maine twice this season, including a significant 81-55 win in January. “To have an opportunity to do that Saturday means the world to me,” Markwood noted.

For Tynes, who has NCAA tournament experience from his time at Montana State, the opportunity to lead his current team is a chance to leave a lasting legacy. “It might be a surprise to other people that we’re in the championship game, but it’s no surprise to us,” he said. “We’ve known we have the talent needed as long as we do the work.”

In the run-up to the championship, excitement has been palpable among fans. A recent pep rally highlighted support for both the basketball and ice hockey teams, enhancing the spirit of the campus community. Director of residence life, Andi Bowen, emphasized the positive impact of sports on student morale. “This is what we needed,” she stated, reflecting on the energy that athletics can bring during challenging times.

As the Black Bears prepare for the conference final, their focus remains steady—concentrating on what it takes to win. “Just being here is so special. You can feel the energy that the fans created,” hockey player Harrison Scott remarked during the rally, encapsulating the drive of the entire athletics department toward a hopeful future.

If they win, the Black Bears will not only claim their first championship but also a coveted berth in the NCAA tournament, a capstone achievement for a program that has been rebuilding over the past few seasons. As they lace up for the crucial encounter, the team seeks to turn aspirations into reality.