Charley Martin-Cerry holds “Big Bear”, who attends every home game, with his daughter Raven Berry, and her husband, Jake Berry. The family, by East Machias, went to Orono Brewing to watch the match America East between Umaine and Bryant on Saturday. Anna Chadwick / Matin Sentinel
ORONO – There will be another male basketball tournament from NCAA without the University of Maine. This time, however, thought does not come with uprights of resignation shoulder.
This time, it comes with hope.
The defeat of 77-59 on Saturday against Bryant in the match of the America East championship ended the best season in decades for the Black Bears.
There was a surveillance celebration in Orono Brewing, not far from the campus, where dozens of fans met to see the game. Some have admitted that they are newcomers in the male basketball team, but, really, when you look at the recent history (and not if this, according to the way you define recent), there were not many reasons to follow the team.
“Above all, I focused on the hockey team, but it was exciting to see them a race in the playoffs,” said Drew Delaney, a Senior of Livermore, pointing to the projection screen on which the Maine / Bryant game was taking place. “I wanted to look at that with a crowd, not quietly at home.”
Until last week’s victory over Umass Lowell in the quarterfinals of America East, the Black Bears had not won a conference eliminatory match for 20 years, and they had not organized an post-season match. Winning at Vermont in the semi-finals on Tuesday was another step forward. The Vermont was the mastodon of America East in the last decade, and the Black Bears have entered the raucous gymnasium Patrick of the Catamounts and left with a 57-42 victory, just becoming the second team to beat the Vermont on its two-digit home field this season.
Ben Barr, Maine’s male hockey coach, swung by Orono Brewing to watch the first half of the match. He had his own eliminatory match to prepare, but wanted to show his support for male basketball from Umaine. “Everyone (in Umaine Athletics) is a good person. It is easy to encourage each other for each other, “said Barr. Anna Chadwick / Matin Sentinel
Ben Barr, Maine’s male hockey coach, stopped by Orono Brewing for a few minutes. Barr had his own eliminatory match to prepare, a quarter-final of Hockey East on Saturday evening in Alfond Arena against Umass Lowell, but he had time to support the male basketball coach Chris Markwood and his program. There is a camaraderie in the sports department, said Barr.
“Everyone is a good person. It is easy to encourage each other for each other, “said Barr.
During a commercial break at the start of the game, Barr addressed the crowd, urging them to continue supporting all the Maine teams.
“I just wanted to say hello. Enjoy the day. Go black bears! Barr said.
At first, when the Black Bears kept the game near, there was energy in the air and a hint of anticipation. Could it be the Maine team to finally hear their name called during the selection program? Would a CBS camera get a live photo of black bears in the pit, jumping and celebrating when he learned what a collegial basketball blood to which they would face in the opening round? Could they play relatively near their home in Providence, Rhode Island, or would the Black Bears do a cross-country flight to Seattle?
But beating Bryant on the road was always going to be a big demand. The Bulldogs won their first two conference tournament games by 11 and 13 points, respectively, and won six conference games in the regular season per at least 20 points, including an 81-55 victory against Maine on January 4.
Five minutes after the start of the match, the score was tied, 8-8, and the crowd Orono Brewing applauded every moment of Maine.
Ten minutes later, Bryant had a four-point lead, 18-14. Always close.
Fifteen minutes, the Bulldogs led, 28-19. While Bryant was starting to wear black bears, the attention of Maine fans decreased slightly. Some have sipped their beers and chatted with friends. At halftime, Bryant’s advance was 38-27. An America East season that started with this defeat in Bryant at the start of the new year ended in the same court.
People meet in Orono Brewing to watch the match on Saturday. The defeat of 77-59 in the match of the America East championship ended the best season in decade for the Black Bears. Anna Chadwick / Matin Sentinel
A defeat cannot derail the progress made by the Black Bears during the 2024-25 season. Maine won 20 games for the first time since 2004. All these dubious sequences, not playing a game in a home qualifying series, without winning a tournament match, without going to the conference final – they were all gone.
It’s nice to see the competitive basketball male team, said Kristen Espling, a teacher at the Orono intermediary school and an elder from Umaine. She cited the success that other Maine teams have had. Women’s basketball, women’s football, grass hockey, baseball and male hockey have been at the NCAA tournament in recent years. It’s nice to see the male basketball team join the party.
“It’s good to be in Orono, that’s for sure,” said Espling.
The male basketball team will not yet be in the NCAA tournament this season. But he never felt closer.
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