Men’s basketball

Maine vs. Troy State

Time, site: noon Sunday, Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 0-4, Troy State 0-1

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 3-0; Maine won 72-59 on Nov. 25, 2000

Key players: Maine – 6-7 F Clayton Brown (14.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 6-3 G Errick Greene (13.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg), 7-0 C Justin Rowe (13.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 4.25 bpg), 6-2 G Derrick Jackson 4.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg), 6-4 F Rickey White (3.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg); Troy State – 6-8 F Lamayn Wilson (19.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg), 6-6 F Lacedrick Pettway (0.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg), 6-6 C Donnie Pemberton (3.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg), 6-1 G Robert Rushing (12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg), 6-3 G Ben Fletcher (5.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg)

Outlook: The Trojans head to Maine after a Friday night game at Marshall, and after falling just short in an upset bid at Kansas State. Success for the Bears may depend on one critical area: taking care of the ball. UMaine has been turning the ball over with regularity, as Brown (5.5 turnovers per game), Greene (4.0), Rowe (3.75) and Jackson (3.75) have all struggled to make Black Bear possessions count. In the halfcourt, the Bears can be dangerous, but none of their opponents thus far have allowed UMaine to walk the ball upcourt and get into its sets without constant harassment. The Trojans are coming off a 19-12 season in 2000-2001 and could give the Bears all they can handle. Rowe is a dominant defender who is shooting 71.9 percent from the floor. If Maine can get him the ball, he’ll be tough to stop. But if Troy State fouls him, duck: Rowe’s success rate from the line is a chilly .273 (6-for-22).