MAINE vs. HARTFORD

Time, site: 7 p.m.; Chase Family Arena, Hartford, Conn.

Records: Maine 14-6 (7-4 America East), Hartford 4-15 (1-9)

Series, last meeting: Hartford leads 19-18, UM won 86-76 on 1/9/01

Key players: Maine – 6-10 F Julian Dunkley (16.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg), 6-6 F Carvell Ammons (15.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg), 6-2 G Huggy Dye (13.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg), 6-3 G Errick Greene (9.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg), 6-2 G Derrick Jackson (6.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg); Hartford – 5-11 G Ryan Stys (12.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg), 6-3 G Keyon Smith (12.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg), 6-4 G/F Mantas Storpirstis (9.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg), 6-10 F Rob Sawicki (7.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg), 6-8 F Josh Odugbela (7.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears topped Hartford in Orono for a couple of reasons: Dunkley and Ammons. Both proved too quick and skilled for the Hartford interior defenders. Sophomore Odugbela did manage a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, though – expect the Bears to do better against him. Sawicki is a skilled post player who can step away from the hoop and score. The problem is that he’s too slow-footed to defend the quicker Bears very well; that flaw limited him to four points in 17 minutes in Orono. After two big home wins last week, Maine can’t afford a road letdown against either Hartford or Sunday’s opponent, Vermont, if it hopes to keep up with conference front-runners Drexel, Hofstra, and Delaware. This is supposed to be the “easy” road trip for league teams. Still, road wins aren’t the easiest to come by, and home teams rarely get blown out in America East play.