Springfield fell to 5-13 as Maine improved to 13-8.
Springfield's Ben Uzoh drives against Erie Jan. 5 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.
By KEVIN THOMAS
PORTLAND, Maine – Springfield Armor coach Bob MacKinnon said before Saturday’s game that his team, with its recent acquisitions, is “like a stew right now.”
“We’re trying to throw everyone in the pot and get them going. So we’ll see.”
The Armor are still looking for the right mix. They stayed close to the Maine Red Claws, but eventually faded in a 116-107 defeat before a sold-out crowd of 3,045 at the Portland Expo.
Guard Ben Uzoh paced Springfield with 20 points and five assists. Dennis Horner added 16 points and eight rebounds. Christian Polk came off the bench to score 16, hitting four of eight 3-pointers.
Springfield had six players in double figures and recorded 24 offensive rebounds – five apiece from Horner, James Mays and Willie Reed.
The Armor went back and forth with Maine. Through three quarters, there were 14 lead changes and 13 ties. And, when Horner drove in for a lay-up with 7:55 remaining, Springfield led 90-88.
Maine missed a shot. Uzoh rebounded and scored on his own drive for a 92-88 lead with 7:24 left.
But Maine, with point guard Shelvin Mack returning from a short stint with the Washington Wizards, kept attacking. The Red Claws hit three straight 3-pointers, from Chris Ayer and two from Micah Downs. Maine led 97-92 and never trailed again.
The Armor dropped further in the cellar of the NBA D-League East Division, falling to 5-13. Maine improved to 13-8, including three wins in three games against Springfield.
These New England rivals still have six games to play against each other.
“We know these games will be 48 minutes, hard-fought and very physical,” Red Claws Mike Taylor said.
Although Taylor said Springfield was much improved because of recent roster changes – including the addition of forwards Horner and Kenny Adeleke – the Armor are 1-5 in 2013.
“We just haven’t played very well,” MacKinnon said in his pre-game comments (he was not available after the game).
“We’ve had to make some changes. We’re hopeful to get back to the level we need to be at.”
Maine, meanwhile, took over first place in the East Division, after both Erie and Canton lost Saturday night.
The Red Claws, sole affiliate of the Boston Celtics, were led by forward DaJuan Summers, with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Mack had 20 points and 12 assists. Center Fab Melo recorded 12 points, eight rebounds and six blocks.
When Springfield closed to 100-99, Melo responded with a lay-up after a Mack pass inside. Melo later added two put-backs to put the game out of reach.
Springfield, after playing six games in 10 days, is off until Friday, when it plays a weekend series at Canton. The Armor return to the MassMutual Center Jan. 24 when the Red Claws visit for a 7 p.m. game.
Boston Celtics assistant coach Jay Larranaga was in attendance Saturday with courtside seats. Larranaga is a D-League veteran, serving as head coach of the Erie BayHawks the previous two years.