BANGOR, Maine - A late comeback bid by the Eagles (6-12, 4-4 NAC) came up short as they fell to the University of Maine-Farmington Beavers (16-3, 8-0 NAC) by a score of 77-70 Friday night in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) action. Derek Collin scored a career high 21-points in the loss, the most points scored by a first-year Eagle this season. 

IN THE ACTION:

Justice Kendall got the Eagles offense started when Brett Cunningham made a steal in the defensive end. A quick pass to Kendall gave the Eagles' a 2-0 advantage to open the half. Collin scored back-to-back buckets to spur his career-high night and put the Eagles up 7-1 with 17:15 remaining. UMaine-Farmington responded to take their first lead of the game, 12-11 when Terion Amir went 2-2 from the charity stripe. Down 22-17, Kendall came up with a steal and made a hard drive to the hoop to bring the Eagles within 3, 22-19 with 8:04 left in the first half. The green and gold would battle their way back within one, 26-25, as Cunningham broke through the Beavers defense at the 3:39 mark. This would prove to be the closest the Eagles would come to regain the lead as they went into the half down 37-29.

Ruby Bill opened the scoring for the Beavers in the second half, hitting a jump shot to send the visitors on a 13-5 run. Cunningham drained a shot from downtown to bring the home team within 13, down 50-37 with 15:29 remaining. J Thomas scored his first of the night from behind the arc to pull the Eagles within nine. Riley Robinson made back-to-back baskets to give the Beavers a double digit lead, before a Cunningham jump-shot would put the home team right back in the game, 71-62 at the 1:52 mark. Despite heading on a 12-5 run to close out the second-half led by five points from Kendall, the Eagles would fall to the visiting Beavers, 77-70. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Collin scored a game-high and career-high 21 points, shooting 75% (3-4) from behind the arc while recording six rebounds and dishing out two assists. 

• Cunningham contributed 15 points in the loss, adding three helpers, three rebounds and a steal.

• Robinson recorded a team high 18 points, three steals and eight rebounds in the victory.

• The Beavers held a 41-33 advantage in rebounds, with the Eagles shooting 44.1% from the field compared to UMaine-Farmington's 40.9%.

UP NEXT!
The Eagles will hit the road to face NAC foe Thomas College tomorrow, February 1st. Tip-off is set for 5:00pm.