Men’s Basketball
MAINE vs. SETON HALL
Time, site: Saturday, noon, Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Records: Maine 1-9, Seton Hall 9-2
Series, last meeting: Seton Hall leads 1-0, SHU 76-49 in 2012
Key players: Maine — 6-5 G Shaun Lawton (11.5 points per game, 2.7 assists per game, 2.0 steals per game), 6-8 F Till Gloger (10.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, .600 FG pct.), 6-5 G/F Garet Beal (6.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg), 6-5 G Zarko Valjarevic (11.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg), 5-11 G Aaron Calixte (7.8 ppg, 3.5 apg); Seton Hall — 6-2 G Sterling Gibbs (15.4 ppg, 3.2 apg, 1.2 spg), 6-9 F Brandon Mobley (10.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 6-9 F Angel Delgado (8.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.4 blocks per game), 6-3 G Khade Carrington (6.7 ppg).
Game notes: The Black Bears look to close out the nonconference portion of their schedule on a winning note, but face a tough test against the Pirates. Coach Bob Walsh’s ballclub showed signs of promise the last time out, but dropped a 72-69 overtime decision at Army. It was their fourth straight loss. Seton Hall is coming off a 65-47 loss at Georgia. The Pirates of the Big East Conference are 5-0 at home this season, while UMaine is winless (0-8) on the road. Sophomore forward Marko Pirovic is still trying to work his way back from an injury and did not make the trip. Mobley and Delgado may be tough matchups inside. However, SHU also is shooting 39 percent from 3-point range, led by Gibbs (24-for-48). No. 2 scorer Isaiah Whitehead (11.9 ppg) is out indefinitely with a stress fracture. The Pirates have limited opponents to 61.8 ppg. Former UMaine assistant coach Fred Hill Jr., the former head coach at Rutgers, is on the Seton Hall staff. He worked under the late Rudy Keeling at UMaine from 1988-1991.