Bengals Upset UMaine Orono
November 26, 2016 • Orono, Maine

Orono, Maine—The Univeristy of Maine at Fort Kent pulled off quite arguably the biggest upset in athletics history, but upsetting NCAA Division I, University of Maine Orono on Saturday afternoon, 80-75. The Bengals came to Orono to face the Blackbears on Campus in “The Pit” and took it to Maine’s only Division I team.

Rosevelt Smith Jr. was the best player on the floor from start to finish as he finished with 29 points, 7 rebounds and 5 steals. The Bengals ran the Bears all night and ended the game with 18 points in transition as well as outscoring Maine, 32-7 on points off turnovers as they forced Maine into 21 turnovers.

UMFK led by two points at the half, 36-34 and went on a 21-4 run that spanned 4:59 in the second half, to go up 57-44 after Maine scored the first six points of the half. Maine then answered with their own 13-0 run to tie the game at 57. UMFK would answer to lead by nine with under three minutes to play, as Will White scored 6 points in a three minute span to break the tie. Maine wouldn’t go away, going on a 10-2 run, to trail UMFK by just one with 27 seconds to play. 74-73. The Bengals called timeout and drew up a play against the Maine pressure to set up a Bobby Syvanthong layup, to lead 76-73. Maine then scored a quick layup and fouled White, who made both free throws to increase the lead to three. Maine missed a three point shot to tie it and Smith Jr. was there for the rebound and was fouled. He missed both foul shots, but rebounded his own miss, was fouled again and made one both to seal the upset.

Syvanthong handled the pressure beautifully and weaved in and out of the Maine defense all night to finish with 14 points, 6 assists, 4 steals and 4 rebounds. Freshman Stephon Bell came off the bench to score 13 and Will White finished with 10.

Maine was led by Wes Myers who scored 18 and Andrew Fleming’s 12 points and 14 rebounds. Maine outrebounded the Bengals 56-39 and UMFK missed 13 of 20 free throws.