CASTINE, Maine — The Maine Maritime Academy men's basketball team opened its 2025–26 season with a hard-fought 77–70 loss to the University of New England in non-conference action on Saturday evening.

The Mariners (0–1) came out strong, jumping ahead 18–12 in the opening five minutes and maintaining a slim advantage for much of the first half. A breakaway dunk by sophomore Marcus Schade gave MMA an eight-point lead with 4:53 remaining, but the Nor'easters (1–0) battled back to tie the game 41–41 at halftime.

UNE opened the second half with a 7–0 run to take a 50–43 lead, but the Mariners responded, tying the game at 64–64 with just over five minutes remaining. Despite the late push, UNE capitalized at the free-throw line down the stretch to secure the 77–70 win.

Schade and junior Jack Banks led the way for Maine Maritime with 19 points apiece. Freshman Aaron Pensel added 11 points and matched Banks for the team lead with nine rebounds.

Freshmen Karsten Walker and Drew Hamilton chipped in eight and seven points, respectively, while Noah Eckhart tallied five rebounds and a team-high three assists.

Defensively, Pensel recorded a game-high four blocks, Banks added two more, and Schade, Pensel, Hamilton, and senior Josiah Dancy each notched two steals.

The Mariners return to action next Saturday at the Ken Wright Invitational Tournament hosted by Amherst College, where they will face Elms College at 7 p.m.