ORONO – After compiling a 6-6 record over the initial seven weeks, the real University of Maine men’s basketball season began Sunday, with the Black Bears’ America East Conference opener.

Maine got off to a solid start, thanks to a 65-52 win over Boston University before about 700 fans at Alfond Arena.

Gerald McLemore (16 points), Terrance Mitchell (15) and Troy Barnies (14) paced Maine (7-6, 1-0 Big East).

Boston University, the coaches’ pick as favorite in the league’s preseason poll, dropped to 5-10 (0-1).

“It’s never easy to start (in Maine),” BU Coach Patrick Chambers said. “That’s a very good team. Lot of good pieces.

“In my mind, they are the team to beat.”

Maine, which was voted third in the coaches’ poll, is optimistic about this season with a deep, veteran team.

“If we keep playing like that, we should be okay,” said Barnies, a 6-foot-7 senior from Auburn.

On Sunday, the Black Bears outshot (42 percent to 32) and outrebounded (39-29) the Terriers.

Maine took a 31-18 first-half lead thanks to tight defense on the Terriers. The Black Bears shut down John Holland, who entered the game with an 18.5 points per game average, the best in America East. He was held scoreless in the first half and finished with eight points.

“We’ve been doing a very good job of playing defense all year,” Maine Coach Ted Woodward said.

“We weren’t as pleased with out defensive effort the last game (a 74-71 loss to Columbia).

“We spent some time talking about it. And I thought we played with a sense of urgency.”

Maine shut down BU’s inside attack, while containing the Terriers’ outside game.

BU rallied twice. The Terriers started the second half with a 10-0 run, and later closed to within one, 36-35. But the Black Bears responded. McLemore hit a 3-pointer, then Barnies went on a tear, scoring his team’s next 10 points, mostly on inside jumpers.

“My confidence is pretty high,” said Barnies, who also had nine rebounds. “And I feel comfortable out there with my teammates.”

Barnies’ teammates include fellow 6-7 senior Sean McNally of Gardiner. McNally is battling an ankle injury, but Woodward had him in the game at key times. He had two points, two rebounds and two blocks Sunday.

Subbing for McNally is 6-7 freshman Alasdair Fraser from Scotland. He added six points, seven rebounds and two blocks Sunday.

Mitchell, a 6-3 senior guard from the Florida panhandle, and McLemore, the sweet-shooting 6-3 junior from San Diego, give Maine its outside shooters.

Asked if Maine was hitting its stride, Woodward grimaced.

“At the end of the year, we’ll talk about if we hit our stride,” Woodward said.

“We’ll talk (today) about the next game.”

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com

 

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