Men’s Basketball
MAINE vs. VERMONT
Time, site: Wednesday, 7 p.m., Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Records: Maine 4-9 (0-0 America East), Vermont 8-7 (0-0)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 70-61, Vermont 68-49 on 2/3/15
Key players: Maine — 5-10 G Kevin Little (14.5 points per game, 2.8 assists per game, 1.3 steals per game), 6-7 F Devine Eke (10.4 ppg, 7.5 rebounds per game, .628 FG pct.), 6-8 F Till Gloger (8.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg), 5-11 G Aaron Calixte (8.2 ppg, 2.4 apg), 6-2 G Lavar Harewood (7.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, .469 3-pt. FG pct.), 6-5 G Shaun Lawton (6.7 ppg, 2.1 apg, 1.4 spg); Vermont — 6-2 G Trae Bell-Haynes (12.4 ppg, 3.6 apg, 1.6 spg), 6-3 G Ernie Duncan (12.2 ppg, 3.3 apg, .467 3-pt. FG pct.), 6-6 F Kurt Steidl (10.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 6-9 F Ethan O’Day (10. 2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.7 bpg), 6-2 G Cam Ward (9.1 ppg)
Game notes: Maine’s goal of earning an NCAA tournament berth can come only through an America East championship. That quest begins with the league opener against Vermont. UMaine has won two in a row, including Saturday’s 98-95 overtime win against Brown. The Catamounts also have won back-to-back games, edging Harvard 65-62 on Sunday. UMaine confronts a balanced UVM offense that features four players averaging double figures. The Bears must contend with the Catamounts’ frontcourt height, along with talented guard Bell-Haynes and 3-point shooter Duncan. UMaine has held opponents to 33 percent long-range shooting. The Bears should have an advantage in depth, although senior post Gloger (back), junior wing Garet Beal of Beals Island (ankle) and freshman forward Issac Vann (ankle) are slowed by injuries.
Women’s Basketball
MAINE vs. VERMONT
Time, site: Wednesday, 7 p.m., Patrick Gym, Burlington, Vermont
Records: Maine 9-6 (0-0 America East), Vermont 5-9 (0-1)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 53-33, Maine 57-54 on 2/17/15
Key players: Maine — 5-8 G Sigi Koizar (17.3 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, 4.0 assists per game, .495 FG pct.), 5-10 G/F Liz Wood (9.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.7 spg), 6-2 F Mikaela Gustafsson (8.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 5-8 G Sophie Weckstrom (8.1 ppg, 2.0 apg), 5-10 G Chantel Charles (5.2 ppg), 5-11 F Bella Swan (5.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg); Vermont — 5-4 G Andreana Thomas (13.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.9 apg), 5-11 G Sydney Smith (11.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 5-8 G Hayley Robertson (6.9 ppg, 2.6 apg), 5-9 G Katie Lavelle (4.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg), 5-5 G Kylie Atwood (4.4 ppg)
Game notes: The Black Bears hope to start clicking in America East after ending nonleague play with back-to-back losses, including a gut-wrenching 59-58 setback at North Carolina on Dec. 31. The Catamounts have dropped two in a row, enduring an 85-48 shellacking in their league opener at UMBC on Saturday. Despite a testy nonconference schedule, UMaine leads the league in scoring defense (52.7 ppg). Vermont has managed only 58.8 ppg and has allowed 65.3 per contest, but tops AE by limiting opponents to 37 percent overall shooting. The Bears’ ability to score inside, limit UVM’s second shots and capitalize on the Catamounts’ tendency for committing turnovers are among the key elements.