UMaine capsules

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Maine vs. GT Express

Time, site: 2 p.m. Sunday, Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Exhibition contest

Last meeting: Maine won 101-68 on 11/3/2000

Key players: Maine – 6-3 G Errick Greene (14 points, 10 rebounds in first exhibition), 6-2 G Derrick Jackson (12 pts., 4 reb.), 6-7 F Clayton Brown (10 pts., 4 reb), 6-4 F Rickey White (7 pts., 4 reb.), 7-0 C Justin Rowe (did not play); G.T. Express – 6-6 G O’Neill Kamaka (26 pts., 6 reb. vs. UNH), 6-4 G Mark Passley (18 pts, 7 reb.), 6-5 G Shane Nicely (15 pts., 10 reb.), 6-10 C Kevin Shand (10 pts., 3 reb.), 5-9 G Wilton Hall (6 pts., 2 reb.)

Outlook: After facing a crisp and disciplined Carleton University squad in Thursday’s exhibition debut, the Black Bears will likely find themselves in a more wide-open affair against Toronto-based GT Express, which defeated UNH 93-92 on Thursday. In last year’s exhibition against GT Express, the Bears were able to score nearly each time they worked the ball down low. That may change, as this year’s roster includes a 6-10 center in Shand, as well as 7-2 Johnny Davis. Rowe will play after sitting out Thursday’s game for an unspecified violation of team rules. Freddy Petkus also played well for the Bears against Carleton and provides the Bears a needed perimeter sniper.

MEN’S HOCKEY

Maine vs. UMass-Lowell

Time, site: Saturday, 7 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 2-3-1 (0-0 Hockey East); UMass-Lowell 4-0 (2-0)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 45-21-2, 3-1 UMass Lowell on Feb. 17

Key players: Maine – RW Colin Shields (6 goals, 1 assist), LW Todd Jackson (2 & 5), C Martin Kariya (2 & 4), D Peter Metcalf (1 & 5), C Tommy Reimann (0 & 5), G Mike Morrison (1-0-1, 1.93 goals-against average, .947 save percentage), G Matt Yeats (1-3, 3.48, .857); UMass-Lowell – C Ed McGrane (3 & 4), C Laurent Meunier (1 & 5), LW Peter Hay (3 & 2), D Jerramie Domish (3 & 2), RW Yorick Treille (1 & 3), D Chris Gustafson ( 2 & 1), us Baptise Amar (1 & 4), G Jimi St. John (3-0, 2.67, .860)

Outlook: The senior-laden River Hawks have already ruined national champion Boston College’s banner-raising ceremony 7-2 and upended preseason Hockey East title choice Providence 4-3. UMass-Lowell snapped Maine’s 14-game unbeaten streak (13-0-1) against them in last year’s final meeting. The River Hawks have received nine goals from their defense corps already this season. Maine will have to hold its own physically against the River Hawks, who will finish their checks all over the ice and forecheck aggressively. The River Hawks will have to keep an eye on Maine’s line of Jackson-Kariya-Shields. The Bears will be without defenseman Francis Nault (knee) and wingers John Ronan (shoulder) and Michael Schutte (mandatory one-game suspension for butt-ending major).