Men’s Basketball
America East Quarterfinals
No. 8 MAINE vs. No. 1 ALBANY
Time, site: Wednesday, 7 p.m., SEFCU Arena, Albany, New York
Records: Maine 3-26, Albany 21-8
Series, last meeting: Albany leads 17-12, Albany 77-49 on 1/31/15
Key players: Maine — 5-10 G Kevin Little (12.5 points per game, 2.6 assists per game, .387 3-pt. FG pct.), 6-8 F Till Gloger (11.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, .521 FG pct.), 6-5 G Zarko Valjarevic (9.9 ppg), 6-5 G Shaun Lawton (9.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.9 spg), 5-11 G Aaron Calixte (7.0 ppg, 3.4 apg), 6-1 G Troy Reid-Knight (4.3 ppg); Albany — 6-6 F Sam Rowley(14.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.3 spg, .530 FG pct.), 6-4 F Peter Hooley (13.7 ppg, 2.4 apg), 6-1 G Evan Singletary (12.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.0 apg, .403 3-pt. FG pct.), 6-4 G/F Ray Sanders (9.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.2 apg), 6-2 G Wheeler Baker (5.8 ppg)
Game notes: Coach Bob Walsh’s Black Bears will try to put it all together on the road against the two-time defending conference champions. Only twice in AE history has a No. 8 seed knocked off a No. 1, the last time in 2004 when Stony Brook beat Boston U. UMaine has dropped nine consecutive postseason contests dating back to a 2005 quarterfinal win. The Bears will again rely heavily on six players as Garet Beal (rib) and Marko Pirovic (foot) remain sidelined. The Great Danes are 9-3 at home this season and are averaging a league-best 3,531 fans. Albany allowed only 56.1 ppg in conference play and ranked first with a .765 free-throw percentage. The Great Danes have won 16 of 17 and 19 of their last 21. UMaine must be able to get stops and can’t afford to let Albany score transition baskets off turnovers and missed shots. It will take UMaine’s best effort of the year go pull off the upset.