Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN

Time, site: Thursday, 7 p.m.; Matthews Arena, Boston

Records: Maine 3-8 (1-1 America East); Northeastern 2-8 (1-1)

Series: Northeastern leads 52-35

Key players: Maine – 5-10 G John Gordon (13.5 ppg, 3.1 apg), 5-11 G Dade Faison (5.5 ppg, 2.6 apg), 6-5 F Ramone Jones (10.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg), 6-5 F Terry Hunt (17.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg), 6-6 C Allen Ledbetter (8.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg); Northeastern – 6-6 F Tyrone Mack (16.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg), 6-7 F Rah-Shun Roberts (11.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg), 5-10 G Harold Miller (10.7 ppg, 2.9 apg), 6-2 G Terry Kringe (7.0 ppg, 3.3 apg), 6-7 F Lin Lattimore (8.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears will face their former coach Rudy Keeling as they return to league play and start an America East six-game series. After losing both games in the Holiday Inn Bow Tie Classic, the Bears are 3-8, while they were 15-13 a year ago. However, Maine top scorer Terry Hunt has scored 12 or more points in his last nine games, remaining a consistent force. And Maine will face a struggling Huskies team. Both teams are coming off losses. Maine lost to UNC-Asheville 65-57 and Northeastern lost 78-63 to Rutgers. Maine has won three of the last five meetings at Matthews Arena.