Men’s basketball
MAINE vs. DUQUESNE
Time, site: Noon Sunday, A.J. Palumbo Center, Pittsburgh
Records: UMaine 2-9, Duquesne 7-2
Series, last meeting: Duquesne 1-0, 87-73 on 12/1/2012
Key players, UMaine: 6-5 G Isaiah White (14.2 points per game), 6-7 F Andrew Fleming (13.4 ppg, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists per game), 6-8 F Vilgot Larsson (8.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg), 6-4 G Sergio El Darwich (8.1 ppg); Duquesne: 6-8 C Michael Hughes (13.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg), 6-6 G Eric Williams Jr. (13.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg), 6-1 G Sincere Carry (10.2 ppg. 5.8 apg, 2.8 steals per game), 6-5 F Marcus Weathers (8.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg)
Game notes: Four hours before the New England Patriots play a key road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, the UMaine men’s basketball team will be in the Steel City to face its second Atlantic 10 Conference opponent of the season. One of the Black Bears’ wins so far this season came against A-10 foe Fordham, a 75-68 double-overtime decision in Bangor on Dec. 4. UMaine, which defeated UMaine-Machias 98-43 on Monday, seeks back-to-back victories for the first time since defeating Holy Cross and Dartmouth on Dec. 7 and 10, 2016. Duquesne is 6-0 at home this season, including Thursday’s 72-57 victory over Maryland-Eastern Shore. Hughes sat out that game with a knee contusion and his availability against UMaine is uncertain. Duquesne’s only losses have come at Notre Dame and in a neutral-site game against Pittsburgh. UMaine is shooting 44 percent from the field overall, but the Bears continue to struggle from the 3-point arc (28.4 percent) and the free-throw line (65.3 percent). Only redshirt junior center Vincent Eze (15 for 18, 83.3 percent) is shooting better than 70 percent from the line among Black Bears who have taken more than 10 free throws. Duquesne hosts Eastern Kentucky and former Messalonskee High School of Oakland standout Nick Mayo on Dec. 22, the same day UMaine plays its final non-conference home game against Central Connecticut State.
Women’s basketball
MAINE vs. NO. 10 NORTH CAROLINA STATE
Time, site: Saturday, 6 p.m., Kay Yow Court inside James T. Valvano Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina
Records: UMaine 7-2, North Carolina State 10-0
Series, last meeting: NC State leads 3-0, NC State 89-64 on 3/13/1998
Key players: Maine — 6-1 G Blanca Millan (20.2 points per game, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 steals, 2.8 assists, 1.3 blocked shots), 5-10 G Tanesha Sutton (13.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.9 spg), 6-1 F Fanny Wadling (11 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2 apg, 1.7 bpg), 5-8 G Parise Rossignol (10.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.8 apg), 5-6 G Dor Saar (9.1 ppg, 5.8 apg, 3 rpg), 5-4 G Maddy McVicar (4.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.2 apg)
North Carolina State — 5-9 G Grace Hunter (15.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.3 apg), 6-0 G Kiara Leslie (14.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.3 spg), 6-5 C Elissa Cunane (13.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.4 apg), 5-9 G Aislinn Konig (12.5 ppg, 4.5 apg, 2.5 rpg), 6-2 F Erika Cassell (4.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg), 6-1 F DD Rogers (2.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.7 apg)
Game notes: UMaine has won five in a row including last Saturday’s 102-96 overtime thriller vs. Brown. Millan is 22nd nationally in steals per game and 28th in points per game. UMaine is eighth nationally in fewest turnovers per game (11.9). A win for the Wolfpack would be their second best start in program history. It is their first 10-0 start since the 1999-2000 season. Konig has hit at least one 3-pointer in 43 straight games and is fifth in the country in 3-pointers made (35). The Black Bears will have their hands full on the boards especially if rebound leader Wadling misses her seventh consecutive game with a concussion. NC State is fourth in defensive rebounds per game (33), 18th in rebounds per game (45.3) and 18th in rebound margin (plus 11.1). NC State is 7-0 at home. Hunter is one of 13 children in her family.