Skyhawks Rally Late but Fall to Maine, 121–115, to Close Home Stand

The College Park Skyhawks (4-10) wrapped up their five-game homestand with a hard-fought 121–115 loss to the Maine Celtics (8-5), nearly erasing a late double-digit deficit before coming up just short at Gateway Center Arena.

Rookie forward Asa Newell turned in his most complete performance yet at the G League level, recording the first double-double of his career and stuffing the stat sheet across the board. Newell finished with career highs in points (29), rebounds (12) and assists (seven), while also adding three steals and three blocks in 35 minutes. In five games on assignment with College Park, Newell is now averaging 20.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists, continuing to make a strong impression on both ends of the floor.

Two-way guard RayJ Dennis kept the Skyhawks within striking distance all night, posting 21 points on an efficient 8-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. Dennis added seven assists, six rebounds and a block in 33 minutes, marking his fifth 20-point outing of the season with College Park.

Despite dressing just eight players, Maine set the tone early. The Celtics erupted for 42 first-quarter points and closed the opening frame on a 13-0 run to take a 42-28 lead. That momentum carried into the second quarter, as Maine went into halftime up 73-49 with five players already in double figures.

College Park showed life coming out of the break, winning the third quarter 29-25 to trim the deficit to 98-78 heading into the fourth. The Skyhawks then flipped the switch late, clawing their way back behind a surge led by Newell and Dennis. Newell poured in 15 fourth-quarter points, while Dennis added 13, as College Park opened the final frame on a quick 10-2 run to cut the lead to 103-90 with seven minutes remaining.

After Maine briefly pushed the lead back to 16, the Skyhawks responded with a furious 13-0 run, bringing the building to its feet and pulling within three. The Celtics answered with timely buckets from Tosan Evbuomwan and Stefan Todorovic, but College Park wasn’t done. Back-to-back triples from Dennis and Newell made it a one-point game, 112-111, with just over a minute to play.

That’s when Celtics rookie Hayden Gray stepped up, knocking down two late-clock three-pointers to seal the game and lift Maine to the 121-115 win. Gray led all players with 23 points, while also tallying 11 assists, eight rebounds and eight steals in a standout all-around performance.

The Skyhawks now head west for a three-game road trip, beginning with a matchup against the South Bay Lakers on Jan. 27 at 10 p.m. on ESPN+, followed by back-to-back games against the San Diego Clippers on Jan. 30 at 10:30 p.m. and Jan. 31 at 10 p.m. The trip marks College Park’s first-ever road games against both South Bay and San Diego, and just the fourth all-time meeting with the Clippers and second against the Lakers.

The effort was there until the final horn — now the focus shifts to turning that fight into wins on the road.