Men’s Basketball
MAINE vs. BROWN
Time, site: Saturday, 2 p.m., Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Records: Maine 3-9, Brown 4-8
Series, last meeting: Brown leads 8-6, Brown 70-68 on 11/1712
Key players: Maine — 5-10 G Kevin Little (13.7 points per game, 2.7 assists per game, 1.3 steals per game), 6-7 F Devine Eke (10.9 ppg, 7.5 rebounds per game, .633 FG pct.), 6-8 F Till Gloger (8.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg), 5-11 G Aaron Calixte (7.0 ppg, 2.1 apg), 6-2 G Lavar Harewood (7.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg), 6-5 G Shaun Lawton (6.5 ppg, 2.2 apg, 1.2 spg); Brown — 6-9 F Cedric Kuakumensah (14.1 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.4 bpg), 6-0 G Tavon Blackmon (11.9 ppg, 5.1 apg), 6-4 G J.R. Hobbie (10.2 ppg, .443 3-pt. FG pct.), 6-6 F Steven Spieth (9.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 3.7 apg), 6-4 G Jason Massey (8.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
Game notes: The Black Bears hope to close out their nonleague schedule by earning a second straight win. UMaine should have gained confidence from Tuesday’s 98-95 overtime victory over Quinnipiac. The Brown Bears have lost three of their last four, including an 88-85 overtime setback against Rhode Island on Wednesday. Brown is 1-5 on the road this season. UMaine will face a challenge defending the versatile Kuakumensah, who can play inside and on the perimeter. Neither team shoots free throws well, but Brown has demonstrated excellent rebounding. UMaine did a good job on the boards against Quinnipiac, so should be geared up for that dynamic. Look for the Black Bears to continue to force the tempo and attack in transition in the hope of going deep into the bench and trying to wear down the visitors. UMaine awaits the return from injury of freshman forward Issac Vann and junior wing Garet Beal of Beals Island. Spieth is the younger brother of 2015 Masters and U.S. Open champion golfer Jordan Spieth.