MAINE vs. CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Time, site: 7 p.m., Friday at McGuirk Arena, Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
Records: Maine 0-2, Central Michigan 2-0
Key players: Maine — 6-1 G Aaron Calixte (8.5 ppg, 4 apg), 6-0 G Kevin Little (7 ppg), 6-4 F Zarko Valjarevic (13 ppg, 7.5 rpg), 6-5 G Shaun Lawton (12 ppg, 3.5 apg), 6-8 F Till Gloger (10.5 ppg, 4 rpg), 6-7 F Ethan Mackey (12 ppg, 5 rpg) ; Central Michigan — 6-1 G Chris Fowler (14 ppg, 9.5 apg, 6-11 F Luke Meyer (12 ppg, 6 rpg), 6-8 F John Simons (10.5 ppg, 8 rpg), 6-7 F Blake Hibbitts (8 ppg, 5.5 rpg), 5-9 G Braylon Rayson (10 ppg, 5 rpg)
Game notes: These are two teams heading in opposite directions as the Bears have dropped their first two games while giving up an average of 94.5 points per game while scoring 71.5 while the Chippewas have won their first two games while scoring 90.5 points a game and allowing 63.5. The Black Bears are also being outrebounded by three per game and could be challenged by the bigger Chippewas who have a 19.5 rebounding margin on their first two opponents. The Chippewas are looking for their first 3-0 start since 2000-01. They opened with a 106-64 victory over Division III Alma on Nov. 14, then beat Youngstown State 75-63 on Tuesday while the Bears were beaten by Butler 99-57 in their opener on Nov. 15 and edged by the New Jersey Institute of Technology 90-86 on Monday. Maine will play its second game in the Central Michigan Tournament against Valparaiso at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.