Featured Image by Jacob Ireland<\/i><\/p>\n
By Sam Robb O’Hagan<\/em><\/p>\n BOSTON \u2014 Miles Brewster took a seat at his press conference in a lounge above Case Gym and, for the first time this season, didn\u2019t know what to say. When asked about his 1-for-8 shooting on the night, he first gave a long \u201cum,\u201d then tried to stretch out an answer, before shaking his head, leaning back in his chair, and, while not saying much of anything, saying it all.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cJust gotta go to the next game. I mean, I don\u2019t \u2014 I don\u2019t \u2014… yeah,\u201d the senior guard said.<\/span><\/p>\n If any one of Boston University men\u2019s basketball\u2019s (3-6) players was going to have an answer after BU\u2019s down-to-the-wire 74-65 loss to Maine (7-4) on Wednesday, it was Brewster, the team\u2019s unquestioned leader and a constant spark plug of smiles, jokes, and words around Case Gym. But, asked plenty of questions over a 12-minute conference \u2014 namely why the Terriers couldn\u2019t finish what was a tied game with 4:14 left \u2014 Brewster didn\u2019t have any answers.<\/span><\/p>\n Probably because there simply weren\u2019t any. A loss like this? It happens.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if that answers your question, just move on to the next game, bro,\u201d Brewster said at one point after noticeably trying to find an answer but instead having to settle on throwing a hand up and letting out a wry smile.<\/span><\/p>\n BU\u2019s last lead in the game came with six minutes left in the first half. But, the Terriers, facing a deficit that was at times as high as 11, chipped and chipped and chipped away at it in the second 20 minutes. At multiple points they brought the game within five, then three, then one, and then with just over four minutes to go, freshman wing Matai Baptiste hit the game-tying 3-pointer.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI was proud of our guys tonight, I thought in the second half, we were kind of grinding, putting ourselves in a position to win it,\u201d BU head coach Joe Jones said.<\/span><\/p>\n Brewster, struggling to find answers throughout his presser, dished out one in particular multiple times: \u201cI thought we fought.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n But they never regained the lead, and after trailing 62-60 during a media timeout with 3:26 left and two free throws coming for sophomore forward Otto Landrum, the Terriers were outscored 12-5 the rest of the game.<\/span><\/p>\n Landrum missed one of his two free throws, as did freshman guard Kyrone Alexander a minute later. Then, a bizarre turnover from Landrum as he attempted an entry pass into the post that ended up flying into the backboard, as well as two critical corner 3-pointers from senior Maine forward Peter Filipovity, doomed BU.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t even think we played horribly, just have to be able to execute and not turn the ball over,\u201d Brewster said of his team\u2019s struggles down the final stretch. Jones echoed: \u201cWe just need to be able to execute better.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n For their part, the Black Bears made clutch plays on offense throughout the second half, particularly in the last three minutes. Junior guard Kellen Tynes shot 7-of-12 from the field, making tough mid-range after tough mid-range in the second period. One of them was critical: a free-throw line jumper after Landrum\u2019s missed free throw to put Maine back up by three.<\/span><\/p>\n Another thing for Brewster and Jones to throw their hands up at.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cTynes made some big shots, man,\u201d Jones said. \u201cThose are shots that we\u2019re trying to force people to make \u2014 contested two\u2019s \u2014 and he friggin\u2019 made \u2018em. You know, you tip your hat.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n As for Filipovity, who finished with 20 points on 7-for-13 shooting and made the two dagger 3s in the waning minutes? \u201cOur scout on him was, you know, we want him to take 3s, so it\u2019s tough,\u201d Brewster said.<\/span><\/p>\n The only straw Brewster or Jones grabbed at to explain their late collapse was free-throw shooting \u2014 BU shot just 10-for-19 from the stripe throughout the game. \u201cYou can\u2019t go 10-for-19. If you look at it, to me, that\u2019s how we ended up losing the game,\u201d Jones said.<\/span><\/p>\n In open play in the final minutes, though, Maine made the plays that BU didn\u2019t. It\u2019s a reality, maybe even an inevitability, of the sport. But it was especially untimely on Wednesday, because for a majority of the second half as they climbed back within striking distance, the Terriers <\/span>did <\/span><\/i>make the plays.<\/span><\/p>\n