Men’s Basketball
MAINE vs. QUINNIPIAC
Time, site: Tuesday, 7 p.m., Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Records: Maine 2-9, Quinnipiac 4-6
Series, last meeting: Quinnipiac leads 5-2, Quinnipiac 81-64 on 12/29/14
Key players: Maine — 5-10 G Kevin Little (13.1 points per game, 2.5 assists per game, 1.2 steals per game), 6-7 F Devine Eke (11.2 ppg, 7.6 rebounds per game), 6-8 F Till Gloger (7.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg), 5-11 G Aaron Calixte (7.0 ppg, 2.1 apg), 6-2 G Lavar Harewood (6.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg), 6-5 G Shaun Lawton (6.6 ppg, 2.6 apg, 1.6 spg); Quinnipiac — 6-1 G Giovanni McLean (15.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.2 apg, .421 3-pt. FG pct.), 6-4 G Daniel Harris (9.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.2 spg), 6-9 F Donovan Smith (9.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.0 bpg), 6-4 G James Ford Jr. 6.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg), 6-1 G Dimitri Floras (4.9 ppg)
Game notes: The Black Bears come off their brief Christmas hiatus hoping to snap a six-game losing streak. UMaine dropped a tough 76-75 decision at Holy Cross on Dec. 21. Quinnipiac of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference has lost two in a row, most recently an 82-61 defeat at Oregon State on Dec. 21. A major point of emphasis in this one for UMaine will be rebounding as the Bobcats have led the nation in that category each of the last three seasons. Quinnipiac is seventh in rebounds per game (44.1) and third in offensive rebounds per game (17.5). However, Quinnipiac has posted only 65.5 ppg and is among the worst teams in the nation at the foul line (59.1 pct.). The Black Bears’ Achilles’ heel has primarily been defense, as they allow 84.6 ppg — which ranks 338th of 346 Division I teams — while allowing teams to shoot 47 percent from the field. Freshman forward Issac Vann is expected to miss his eighth straight game because of an ankle injury.