(Fort Kent, Maine)- The SUNY Canton men's basketball team came up just short on Saturday as they lost to the University of Maine at Fort Kent 84-80 in a thrilling game in Maine. The Roos dropped to 0-4 in the Sunrise Conference and 1-13 overall while the Bengals improved to 3-1 and 7-12.

The game saw seven ties and 12 lead changes and both teams shot 50 percent from the floor.

SUNY Canton had opened their largest lead at nine-points with just over five minutes remaining in the first half after an 8-2 run. Fort Kent closed the half on a 19-8 run to take a two-point lead into the locker room at 41-39.

Three times the Bengals built six-point leads in the second half and all three times the Roos battled back to get within two points.

The final time came with 15 seconds left in the second half. Fort Kent led 82-80 but missed a long three-pointer with the shot clock winding down but got the ball back on an offensive rebound from Billy Russo. The Bengals then turned the ball over on the ensuing in bounds play giving the Roos one more shot.

After a time out the Roos turned the ball over on a steal from Gediminas Sumyla and Othniel Hyliger sank two free throws for the final score.

Charles McCoy (Bronx, N.Y.) led the Roos with 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Byron Jones (Glenarden, Md.) added 17 points, including four 3-pointers, and seven assists. Andre White (Bronx, N.Y.) had 15 points and three boards and James Morrison (Paisley, Scotland) chipped in with eight points and four rebounds.

Hamill Bassue scored 20 points for the Bengals. Jimmy Lopez buried four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points. Goran Nagradic added 13 points and Hyliger and Sumyla each had 10.

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