Men’s Basketball
MAINE vs. UMASS LOWELL
Time, site: 4 p.m. Thursday, Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Records: Maine 8-16 (4-7 America East), UMass Lowell 9-15 (5-6)
Series, last meeting: UML leads 4-1, Maine 95-81 on 1/12/16
Key players: Maine — 5-10 G Kevin Little (14.7 points per game, 2.6 assists per game, 1.2 steals per game), 6-7 F Issac Vann (14.0 ppg, 5.5 rebounds per game), 6-7 F Devine Eke (10.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.6 blocks per game, .657 FG pct.), 5-11 G Aaron Calixte (10.0 ppg, 2.8 apg), 6-7 F Till Gloger (9.0 ppg), 6-5 G Shaun Lawton (8.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.0 spg); UML — 6-2 G/F Jahad Thomas (13.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.5 apg), 6-0 G Isaac White (11.3 ppg, 2.5 apg), 6-1 G Matt Harris (9.9 ppg), 6-6 F Tyler Livingston (8.4 ppg), 6-7 G/F Josh Gantz (6.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
Game notes: The Black Bears are out to stop a three-game skid with a rematch against the River Hawks. UMaine lost 88-75 on Monday at New Hampshire. The Bears have held their last four opponents under 90 points, but have averaged only 74 ppg in those contests. Vann, who missed the UNH game, will be a game-time decision after suffering a leg injury against UMBC last Saturday. UML is riding high after a 100-93 win over Vermont on Monday. The River Hawks have won two of their last three and are shooting 50 percent in league play. Thomas ranks sixth in scoring and second in rebounding in AE games.
Women’s Basketball
MAINE vs. UMASS LOWELL
Time, site: 7 p.m. Thursday, Costello Athletic Center, Lowell, Massachusetts
Records: Maine 19-7 (10-1 America East), UMass Lowell 4-19 (1-10)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 5-0, Maine 74-44 on 1/13/16
Key players: Maine — 5-8 G Sigi Koizar (16.6 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, 4.0 assists per game, 1.7 steals per game, .431 3-pt. FG pct.), 5-10 G/F Liz Wood (9.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.7 spg), 6-2 F Mikaela Gustafsson (8.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.1 apg), 5-11 F Bella Swan (8.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, .497 FG pct.), 5-8 G Sophie Weckstrom (6.0 ppg, 2.1 apg), 5-8 G Lauren Bodine (4.8 ppg); UML — 6-3 F Lindsey Doucette (14.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg), 5-11 F Kayla Gibbs (12.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg, .586 FG pct.), 5-10 G Nicole Hayner (11.9 ppg), 5-8 G Asia Mitchell-Owens (8.0 ppg, 2.0 apg), 5-7 G Melissa Frase (6.7 ppg, 3.4 apg)
Game notes: The Black Bears look for their eighth consecutive victory, but can’t look past the River Hawks to Sunday’s first-place showdown against Albany. UMaine edged New Hampshire 59-55 on Monday despite second-half offensive woes. UML should be energized after snapping a 12-game losing streak with Monday’s 68-66 win at Vermont. The River Hawks’ Achilles’ heel has been defense (69.4 ppg in AE games) and they are averaging a league-high 20.4 turnovers in league play. UMaine needs to limit the versatile Doucette and keep Gibbs from getting the ball in the paint.