Men’s Basketball
MAINE vs. STONY BROOK
Time, site: Saturday, 2 p.m., Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Records: Maine 1-15 (0-4 America East), Stony Brook 11-7 (2-1)
Series, last meeting: tied 16-16, SBU 80-54 on 3/8/14
Key players: Maine — 6-8 F Till Gloger (11.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, .536 FG pct.), 6-5 G Zarko Valjarevic (11.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg), 6-5 G Shaun Lawton (10.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.9 spg), 5-10 G Kevin Little (8.6 ppg, 2.3 apg), 5-11 G Aaron Calixte (6.7 ppg, 3.4 apg), 6-5 F Garet Beal (6.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg); Stony Brook — 6-8 F Jameel Warney (16.2 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, .521 FG pct.), 6-0 G Carson Puriefoy (13.9 ppg, 3.3 apg, 1.2 spg), 6-7 F Rayshaun McGrew (9.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg), 6-6 F Roland Nyama (7.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg), 6-4 G Kameron Mitchell (4.2 ppg, .552 3-pt. FG pct.)
Game notes: Standing in the way of UMaine snapping a 10-game losing streak is perennial league power Stony Brook. The Black Bears must try to find a way to slow down powerhouse Warney, a power forward who UMaine coach Bob Walsh said is the best player in the conference. The contest features a rare meeting of two instate Division I players in SBU’s Chris Braley and UMaine’s Beal. Braley, a sophomore guard, played at Nokomis HS in Newport while sophomore guard Beal starred at Jonesport-Beals. The Bears are playing the second of four straight home games in Bangor. The Seawolves, who have won eight straight in the series, have allowed only 62.1 ppg and lead the league in rebounding. UMaine must support its frontcourt by aggressively crashing the boards from the guard spots.
Women’s Basketball
MAINE vs. STONY BROOK
Time, site: Saturday, 2 p.m., Island Federal Credit Union Arena, Stony Brook, New York
Records: Maine 10-6 (2-1 America East), Stony Brook 9-7 (2-1)
Series, last meeting: SBU leads 17-13, SBU 73-65 on 2/22/14
Key players: Maine — 5-8 G Sigi Koizar (14.8 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per game, 1.8 steals per game), 5-10 F Liz Wood (12.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.5 apg, 3.1 spg), 6-4 F Anna Heise (7.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, .521 FG pct.), 5-8 G Sophie Weckstrom (7.4 ppg), 6-2 F Mikaela Gustafsson (3.9 ppg), 5-10 G/F Chantel Charles (2.2 ppg, 2.3 apg, 1.3 spg); Stony Brook — 6-0 F Sabre Proctor (15.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg), 5-5 G Kori Bayne-Walker (11.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.1 apg), 6-0 F Brittany Snow (11.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg), 6-1 G Jessica Ogunnorin (8.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg), 5-7 G Miranda Jenkins (4.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg)
Game notes: The Black Bears seek their third win in a row as the Seawolves put their 7-1 home record on the line. UMaine is coming off a well-rounded performance in a 66-54 win over UMass Lowell during which Wood registered the first triple-double in school history with 11 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists (with 6 steals and 2 blocked shots). SBU hangs its hat on overall strength, quickness and aggressiveness attacking the basket and AE-best 72 percent FT shooting. The Seawolves have won two straight, including Wednesday’s 66-50 win at UMBC. UMaine must bottle up the middle without fouling and shoot well to help limit SBU’s transition opportunities. The Bears likely will pack it in with their 2-3 matchup zone as the Seawolves are shooting only 25 percent from the 3-point arc.