MAINE vs. NEW HAMPSHIRE
Time, site: Tuesday, 7 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono
Records: Maine 12-7 (6-1 America East), New Hampshire 8-11 (2-5)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 112-65, New Hampshire 68-57 on 3/6/10
Key players: Maine — 6-7 F Troy Barnies (13.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg, .532 FG pct.), 6-3 G Gerald McLemore (12.1 ppg, .813 FT pct.), 6-3 G Terrance Mitchell (10.4 ppg, .429 3-pt. FG pct.), 6-1 G Raheem Singleton (8.8 ppg, 4.2 apg), 6-7 F Murphy Burnatowski (7.8 ppg), 6-7 F Alasdair Fraser (5.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, .549 FG pct.); New Hampshire — 6-2 G Tyrone Conley (14.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.5 spg), 6-9 C Dane DeLiegro (7.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg, .490 FG pct., .750 FT pct.), 6-4 G Chandler Rhoads (7.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.6 apg), 6-9 F Brian Benson (5.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.1 bpg), G Jordon Bronner (3.1 ppg, 1.9 apg)
Outlook: The Black Bears should not lack motivation as they encounter the team that ousted them prematurely form the AE tourney in West Hartford, Conn., last March. UMaine is coming off a solid 71-59 win over Stony Brook and looks to extend its win streak to six games. After tonight, the Bears play four of their next five games on the road. The challenges for the Bears, who rank first in AE games in scoring 70.1 and FG pct. .471, include holding Conley in check and keeping DiLiegro and Benson off the glass. Barnies continues to provide consistent energy and production for UMaine. DiLiegro returns after reportedly serving a three-game suspension for violating team rules, but the Wildcats have lost all-league senior guard Alvin Abreu and F Ferg Myrick (12.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg) to knee injuries. UNH has been steady defensively, but has averaged only 58.4 in AE action.