MAINE vs. DELAWARE

Time, site: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 11-6 (7-1 America East); Delaware 11-6 (4-4)

Series/last meeting: Maine leads 16-1; Maine won 73-58 on Jan. 4

Key players: Maine – 6-4 C Jamie Cassidy (20.5 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.2 bpg), 5-7 G Amy Vachon (11.5 ppg, 6.4 apg, 2.5 spg), 5-11 G/F Kizzy Lopez (7.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.3 spg), 6-4 F Martina Tinklova (7.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg), 5-10 G Kristen McCormick (7.8 ppg), 6-1 F Anna James (3.5 ppg); Delaware – 5-8 G Cindy Johnson (17.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.2 spg), 5-11 G/F Danielle Leyfert (11.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg), 6-1 F Christina Rible (11.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg), 5-6 G Megan Dellegrotti (8.2 ppg), 5-6 G Christine Koren (7.2 ppg, 4.4 apg), 6-0 F Renee Baker (6.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears return home after playing 8 of the last 10 on the road. Maine has won seven straight, eking out an overtime win Sunday at Hofstra. The Blue Hens had a three-game win streak snapped with Sunday’s loss at Towson, during which Delaware blew a 19-point second-half lead. The big key in this game is rebounding. Maine won the battle of the boards 55-38 in the Jan. 4 meeting and held the Hens to 27 percent shooting. The Bears need to avoid foul trouble trying to guard Johnson and Leyfert, who have a knack for getting to the foul line.

Men’s college basketball

MAINE vs. TOWSON

Time, site: 7 p.m. Thursday, Towson Center, Towson, Md.

Records: Maine 14-5 (6-2 America East), Towson 9-8 (5-4)

Series/last meeting: Maine leads 7-6/UM won 89-80 on 1/4/00

Key players: Maine – 6-8 F Nate Fox (16.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg), 6-2 G Huggy Dye (16.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg), 6-1 G Andy Bedard (13.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.9 apg), 6-10 F Julian Dunkley (13.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg), 6-3 G Derrick Jackson (6.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg); Towson – 6-6 F Brian Barber (16.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg), 6-8 C Shaun Holtz (13.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg), 5-11 G Damon Cason (9.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.4 apg), 6-1 G Raul dePablo (6.7 ppg), 6-5 G/F Torin Ragin (6.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears have to avoid looking past the Tigers to Saturday night’s showdown with Delaware. Last year the Bears topped Delaware on the road, then lost to a struggling Tigers squad. Towson is known for its stingy defense, but the Bears solved that riddle en route to an 89-point effort in Orono 22 days ago. UMaine’s offense isn’t the problem. The Bears made it difficult for Towson to get the ball to Barber, the league’s top field goal shooter, in the first meeting. They must repeat that. UMaine’s Carvell Ammons is the wildcard: He’s shooting 67 percent and provides another physical low-post defender.