Albany wins 84-66 after Maine scores 10 in first half

ORONO, Maine -- Albany's Joe Cremo scored 19 of his 22 points in the first half and Maine couldn't recover from a 10-point effort in the first 20 minutes with the Great Danes taking an 84-66 victory on Saturday.

Maine (4-15, 1/3 America East) made only 4 of 30 shots in the first half for 13 percent, including 1 of 10 3-pointers, while giving up 14 points off turnovers and committing 17 fouls, with the Great Danes converting 18 of 21 at the line.

The 10 points were the fewest scored in a half by the Black Bears this season, having scored 13 against Texas Tech and 15 versus Massachusetts, both first-half totals. It was also Albany's best defensive effort in a half this season.

Maine bounced back to outscore Albany 56-36 in the second half, including an 18-0 run, and ended up outshooting Albany by a percentage point.

The Black Bears committed 32 fouls and the Great Danes (14-5, 2-2) converted 35 of 44 at the line.

Travis Charles added 19 points and Ahmad Clark 15 for Albany.

Aaron Calixte scored 16 points, Danny Evans 14 and Andrew Fleming 12 for Maine while Ilija Stojiljkovic had 10 rebounds.