VEZAIE, Maine (Interstat) — In a game defined by a stunning reversal of offensive efficiency, the Maine Black Bears, led by a career-high 21 points from Caleb Crawford, overcame a significant halftime deficit to defeat the Vermont Catamounts 76-70 in an America East Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Cross Insurance Center.

The victory, witnessed by an announced crowd of 1,140, snapped a four-game losing streak for Maine and avenged a five-point loss to Vermont just three weeks prior. It also defied pregame projections that heavily favored the visiting Catamounts.

The narrative of the contest was a tale of two distinct halves, with Vermont building a workable lead before a complete offensive transformation by Maine after the break decided the outcome. The Catamounts, who entered the game with a 14-9 record, led 38-24 at halftime despite shooting just 34.5% from the field. Their defense and eight first-half offensive rebounds created extra possessions, allowing them to weather their own poor shooting.

Maine, however, was utterly dominant in the second half, particularly on the offensive end. After scoring 38 points on 45.2% shooting in the first half, the Black Bears were surgical after intermission, matching their first-half total of 38 points but doing so on a scorching 66.7% shooting from the floor. They made 6 of 9 three-point attempts in the second half, finishing the game 10 of 18 from beyond the arc for a remarkable 55.6%.

Vermont, conversely, could not sustain its defensive pressure. The Catamounts improved their own shooting in the second half, scoring 46 points, but could not stop the Maine onslaught. The Black Bears finished the game with an offensive rating of 117.1, scoring 76 points on just 65 possessions, while Vermont managed a 103.0 rating on 68 trips.

The most important stretch of the game came immediately after halftime. Vermont’s Ben Michaels committed a turnover on the opening possession, which Logan Carey stole. That sparked a 7-0 Maine run in the first 90 seconds of the second period, capped by a TJ Biel jump shot off a Ryan Mabrey assist. The burst cut Vermont’s 14-point lead to seven and ignited the home crowd. Maine’s momentum never truly wavered from that point forward, as they continued to chip away before finally taking the lead for good midway through the half.

Caleb Crawford, a 5-foot-10 guard from the Bronx, New York, was the catalyst for Maine’s resurgence. After being held to just two points in 20 minutes in his previous outing, Crawford erupted for 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 4 of 5 from three-point range. He added four assists and was a steadying force throughout the second-half surge.

He was supported by a balanced and efficient Black Bears attack. TJ Biel of Calgary, Canada, provided 17 points, six assists and two blocks in 38 minutes. Mekhi Gray added 17 points, including a crucial dunk in the final minute that helped seal the win. Amare Allen contributed eight points and key defensive plays off the bench.

For Vermont, TJ Hurley of Pelham, Canada, led all scorers with 27 points, knocking down five three-pointers. Gus Yalden posted 12 points and five assists, and TJ Long added 13 points. However, the Catamounts were hampered by 14 turnovers and a stark disparity in shooting efficiency. They finished the game 23 of 52 from the field (44.2%) and 10 of 29 from three-point range (34.5%), numbers overshadowed by Maine’s 26-of-45 (57.8%) performance.

The loss drops Vermont to 14-10 overall, while Maine improves to 6-17. The result also meant the combined score of 146 points sailed over the pregame over/under line of 128.5, and Vermont failed to cover the 7.5-point spread as favorites.

Both teams return to conference play Saturday. Vermont will host New Hampshire, while Maine travels to face Bryant.