Ashley Sims made a go-ahead layup with 2:58 remaining after Maine erased an 11-point second-half deficit, and Bryant escaped with a 56-51 win Saturday afternoon in an America East men’s basketball game in Orono.

The game was a rematch of last year’s America East championship game, which was won by Bryant.

Maine (2-14, 0-1 America East) trailed 45-34 before going on a 16-4 run. A three-point play by Logan Carey gave the Black Bears a 50-49 lead with 3:28 to go.

That was Maine’s final basket, however. The Black Bears finished 18 of 57 from the field (31.6 percent) and made only 2 of 18 3-pointers.

T.J. Biel was the only Maine player in double figures, finishing with 20 points.

Aaron Davis led Bryant’s balanced offense with 13 points. Sims, Ty Tabales and Quincy Allen all scored 12 points for the Bulldogs (5-10, 1-0).