PORTLAND, Maine — The Maine Red Claws, presented by Unum, got a strong 2nd quarter and an all-around solid offensive performance to cruise past Wisconsin Saturday night, 111-98 in front of a sold out crowd at the Portland Expo.
Maine (11-20) was led by Boston Celtics Two-Way Player P.J. Dozier with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Fellow Two-Way Player R.J. Hunter and Andrew White scored 20 points each, while John Bohannon added 14 points and 13 rebounds in a double-double. Vitto Brown scored 13, while Archie Goodwin added 11 in the win.
Wisconsin (8-23) was led by Two-Way Player Bonzie Colson, who had a game-high 28 points to go with 11 rebounds. Robert Johnson added 23 points in the loss. Wisconsin shot just 14.3% (4-28) from three-point range in defeat.
The Red Claws and Herd would trade buckets back and forth in the early going. Colson put back a lay-up to give Wisconsin a 10-6 lead. Hunter followed up Goodwin’s lay-up with a three-pointer, cutting the deficit to 1. Dozier made an alley-oop dunk at the end of the quarter, but Wisconsin led 33-28 after 1.
In the 2nd, Maine took over the game offensively, The Red Claws scored 6 quick points, capped by a Brown three. Hunter’s pullup gave the Claws a 7 point advantage. Colson scored 10 points in the 2nd for the Herd, but Maine out-scored Wisconsin 35-23 in the period, taking a 63-56 lead into the break. Maine shot 51.1% (24-47) from the floor in the first half, including 10 made threes. Hunter led Maine with 14 points. Colson led all scorers with 16 at the half. Wisconsin was just 2-12 from downtown in the first half.
In the 3rd, the Herd tried their best to get back into the game. Colson and Robert Johnson led the offensive attack, while Maine struggled from beyond the arc, going just 1 for 9. Wisconsin won the quarter, 25-20, and suddenly it was a two point game at 83-81. The Red Claws took over in the 4th quarter. With Dozier and Bohannon leading the attack, making 7 of their 11 shots and scoring 17 points combined. The Red Claws out-scored Wisconsin 28-17 in the 4th, cruising to victory down the stretch.
Maine shot 48.9% (43-88) from the field, 40% (12-30) from three-point range, and 13-18 from the free throw line. Wisconsin shot 40.4% (40-99) from the floor, 14.3% (4-28) from three-point range, and 14-17 from the charity stripe.