In the season opener on November 4, the University of Maine men’s basketball team faced a challenging match against the Duke Blue Devils, ultimately losing 96-62 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. This game was significant for Duke’s freshman standout, Cooper Flagg, who hails from Newport, Maine. Flagg’s connection to the region deepens his story; he was the first freshman to earn the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year award, and his family ties to UMaine run deep, as his mother played for the school, and his brother Ace recently committed to the Black Bears.
Maine entered this game with a solid reputation, being ranked fourth in the America East preseason poll—their highest position in 13 years. Head Coach Chris Markwood is looking to build on the team’s previous successes, having improved his record each season since taking over the program.
The game started with Duke’s first-year forward Kon Knueppel scoring the opening basket. Initially, Flagg struggled to find his rhythm but quickly facilitated plays for his teammate, Khaman Maluach, leading to early points for Duke. Maine showed resilience, keeping up with the Blue Devils through strong offensive rebounds and creating turnovers. Graduate student Kellen Tynes provided a spark by scoring after forcing a turnover, while fourth-year guard Quinn Burns contributed to the scoring.
However, as the game progressed, Duke’s offense began to win out. Knueppel began to shine with his scoring, including a deep three-pointer that increased Duke’s lead from four to 14 points in mere minutes. Maine responded with a burst of nine unanswered points, highlighting their capability to stay competitive.
Duke headed into halftime with a 44-33 lead, thanks in part to Maine’s impressive defensive efforts, forcing eight turnovers, and a notable performance from third-year forward Keelan Steele, who made an impact despite injuries that forced him to redshirt last season.
As the second half commenced, the scoring pace increased with both teams trading three-pointers. However, Maine’s challenges mounted with Steele fouling out, diminishing their chances against a Duke team that began to find its groove with effective off-ball movement and aggressive rebounding.
Duke extended their lead, with Proctor and other teammates stepping up to secure the victory. Flagg finished the game with impressive stats, totaling 18 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, while Knueppel led all scorers with 22 points. Maine’s Burns was the highest scorer for the Bears, contributing 15 points.
Despite the loss, Maine demonstrated potential and grit. Their ability to compete early and challenge a storied Duke program suggests they may have a promising season ahead. The experience gained from this high-level matchup will be invaluable for the Black Bears as they continue to develop under Coach Markwood’s leadership. This season presents an opportunity to build on their successes and learn from their challenges, making it one to watch as the team strives for growth.