Maine 81, Albany, N.Y. 70

1/23/2008 9:39 PM

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -Mark Socoby had 18 of his 20 points in the second half and Maine rallied from a 12-point deficit to beat Albany, N.Y., 81-70 in America East basketball Wednesday night.

Albany (9-10, 4-3 AE) trailed 46-40 at halftime, but opened the final period with an 11-2 run. The Great Danes pushed out to a 12-point margin with 10:58 remaining.

Maine (6-13, 2-4) responded with 15 of the next 16 points. Albany's Brett Gifford was called for a technical foul after he fouled Kaimondre Owes. The Black Bears made four free throws and Socoby hit a 3-pointer from the right wing.

After the Great Danes tied the contest at 54-54 on Jerel Hastings' tip-in, Maine scored eight unanswered points to pull away for good.

Owes finished with 17 points for Maine and Junior Bernal had 16.

Brian Lillis had 19 points for Albany and Tim Ambrose scored 16 off the bench. Brian Connelly scored 15.