Men’s Basketball
MAINE vs. ALBANY
Time, site: Saturday, 2 p.m., Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Records: Maine 2-19 (1-7 AE), Albany 13-7 (8-0)
Series, last meeting: Albany leads 16-12, Albany 80-56 on 1/3/15
Key players: Maine — 6-8 F Till Gloger (11.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, .525 FG pct.), 5-10 G Kevin Little (10.7 ppg, 2.6 apg, .446 3-pt. FG pct.), 6-5 G Zarko Valjarevic (10.6 ppg), 6-5 G Shaun Lawton (9.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.9 spg), 5-11 G Aaron Calixte (7.0 ppg, 3.3 apg), 6-5 F Garet Beal (6.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg); Albany — 6-6 F Sam Rowley (13.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, .510 FG pct.), 6-1 G Evan Singletary (12.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.7 apg), 6-4 G/F Ray Sanders (8.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.3 spg), 6-2 G Wheeler Baker (5.6 ppg), 6-8 F Mike Rowley (3.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
Game notes: The Black Bears begin the second half of the conference season looking to make strides with their defensive intensity and consistency. UMaine lost 63-58 to New Hampshire on Wednesday. The two-time defending AE champion Great Danes have won eight in a row, the last four without leading scorer Peter Hooley, a junior guard who has returned to his native Australia to be with his mother, who is battling cancer. Albany, which edged Vermont 47-44 on Wednesday, is limiting AE opponents to only 53.2 ppg on 37 percent shooting. The Great Danes also have been efficient on offense, shooting 44 percent from the field and a league-best .809 from the foul line. UMaine’s Beal has missed back-to-back games with bruised ribs and again is questionable.
Women’s Basketball
MAINE vs. ALBANY
Time, site: Sunday, 1 p.m., SEFCU Arena, Albany, New York
Records: Maine 15-6 (7-1 America East), Albany 15-6 (8-0)
Series, last meeting: UMaine leads 16-14, Albany 49-43 on 1/3/15
Key players: Maine — 5-8 G Sigi Koizar (14.7 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, 2.6 assists per game, 1.7 steals per game), 5-10 F Liz Wood (14.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, 3.1 spg), 6-4 F Anna Heise (7.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .527 FG pct.), 5-8 G Sophie Weckstrom (7.7 ppg), 6-2 F Mikaela Gustafsson (4.3 ppg), 5-10 G/F Chantel Charles (2.7 ppg, 1.9 apg); Albany — 6-1 F Shereesha Richards (21.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.8 spg, .579 FG pct.), 5-8 G Imani Tate (13.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.5 apg), 5-9 G/F Sarah Royals (8.9 ppg, 4.9 apg), 5-9 G Zakiya Saunders (7.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.7 apg), 6-2 F/C Tiana-Jo Carter (6.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg)
Game notes: The Black Bears hope to build on the momentum generated from Thursday’s 87-56 rout of New Hampshire. UMaine is motivated to face an Albany team that has racked up 29 straight AE victories. The three-time defending champions boast the reigning player of the year in Richards. Albany cruised past Vermont 89-48 on Thursday. The Bears have held 10 consecutive opponents under 60 points, the first such UM streak since the 2005. Wood needs five points to reach 1,000 for her career. UMaine and Albany rank 1-2 in several league statistical categories. The Great Danes have been the AE’s top team in shooting (52 percent) and rebounding margin (plus-10.0).