UM hoopsters to face BU

The University of Maine men’s basketball team will look to make it three straight wins over Boston University this season when the Black Bears welcome the Terriers to Orono Thursday night in the semifinals of the North Atlantic Conference Tournament (7:30).

Boston University (11-17), seeded third, ran away from No. 6 New Hampshire 88-57 in Tuesday night’s NAC quarterfinal to gain the return date with Maine (12-15).

Maine defeated BU twice by scores of 88-81 in Boston Jan. 30 and 84-63 in The Terriers feature first-team All-NAC forward Jason Scott (15 ppg, 8 rpg) and second-team guard Reggie Stewart (18 ppg).

“We thought we’d play them,” said Maine Coach Rudy Keeling, after learning the result of the BU-UNH game Tuesday night. “We were working today and I was saying `Stewart will do this and Scott will do that.’ Francois (Bouchard) said to me, `Coach, have they played the game already?”‘

Bouchard, Maine’s 6-8 redshirt freshman forward and NAC Rookie of the Year, scored 55 points in the two games with BU.

“I think we present a problem for them inside,” said Keeling. “I don’t think it bothers them as much as they’d like people to think. I think it will be a good contest and a close game.”

In the other quarterfinal, No. 5 Hartford upset No. 4 Vermont 85-65.