AUBURN - The Central Maine Community College men's basketball team knew the University of Maine at Farmington was just a scrimmage for the Beavers at Kirk Hall on Wednesday night.

 But this was opening night for the Mustangs, whose tenacity was not enough before they fell to UMF in a fierce 83-64 loss in front of a packed house.

 "We are having a problem with our defense," CMCC coach Dave Gonyea said. "Our kids were not being physical enough, not being aggressive enough and being outworked - and that's what you saw tonight.

 "I wish I could say we had all kinds of bright spots. I think that we don't quit and I guess that's a bright spot, but after that, I don't see any bright spots." 

 The Mustangs rallied in the first half, with the Beavers clinging to a 37-36 lead at halftime. But the Beavers used their might in the second half and pulled away in the middle of the second quarter.

 Harry Bates, the Mustangs' 6-foot-8 center from Australia, led the team with 15 points and turned in a strong performance inside the paint. Fellow Aussie guard Jackson Biringham helped out with 13. UMF guard Zachary Mickie led UMF with 15 points and forward Will Harriman had 14.

 "I don't think we played our best tonight," CMCC guard Wyatt Hathaway said. "We didn't shoot very well, we didn't rebound very well and we didn't really defend very well."

 But Hathaway threw Bates a shut-out for his performance underneath the rim.

 "Harry was dominating the boards and he was dominating the paint," Hathaway said. "That's a good sign."

Story by Tony Blasi