MEN’S BASKETBALL

MAINE HOLIDAY CLASSIC

MAINE VS. HUSSON

Time, site: 1 p.m. at Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 2-6, Husson 4-2

Series, last meeting: 1-1, Maine 102-56 on Dec. 21, 1997

Key players: Maine – 6-1 G Kevin Reed (14.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 7-0 C Justin Rowe (13.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg), 6-4 G-F Rickey White (14.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg), 6-7 F Clayton Brown (6.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg), 6-6 G-F Joe Campbell (11.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg), 6-2 G Eric Dobson (10.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.4 apg); Husson – 6-0 G Dwayne Ailey (14.4 ppg, 1.8 spg), 6-5 F Randy Fletcher (14.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg), 6-1 G Ryan Rivera (11.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.7 apg), 6-4 F Phil White (11.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 6-0 G Jason Harvey (9.8 ppg, 2.2 apg)

Outlook: This is the game the Husson Braves have circled so often on their calendars that the paper has worn through. Veterans have pointed to this as a game that could jump-start their season and ignite another Braves postseason run, while the Black Bears are just trying to develop more consistency, on-court communication, and perimeter defense. Maine will be without senior guard and captain Derrick Jackson, who is out with a broken rib suffered in the Rhode Island game last week. Husson junior guard Ailey is coming off a Maine Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Association Player of the Week performance after scoring 45 points and shooting 51 percent from the floor in two games. Phil White was the MMBCA’s rookie of the week with 34 points in two games. Maine’s frontcourt should be the toughest Husson will see this season as Rowe is a shot-blocking machine (12 in two games). Both teams like to run, so defense will be the prime determinant of this game.

UM-MACHIAS vs. JACKSONVILLE STATE

Time, site: 3:30 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: UM-Machias 6-3, Jacksonville State 5-1

Series, last meeting: none

Key players: UMM – 6-1 PG Albert Whittaker (4.5 apg), 6-9 center Phillip Munro (12.4 ppg), 6-4 F Wayne Clarke (10.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg), 6-6 F Joe Footer (1.0 blocks), 6-1 G Sharrief Sims, 6-2 G Gary Dussard (10.5 ppg), 6-3 F Chujour Chujour (11.5 ppg); Jacksonville State – 6-8 F Omar Bartlett (16.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg), 6-3 G Jay Heard (15.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.5 spg), 6-0 G Scott Watson (12.2 ppg, 3.8 apg), 6-0 PG Corneillus Poonie Richardson (12.7 ppg, 6.3 apg), 6-3 G James Denson (7.2 ppg), 6-4 F Josh Perry (7.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg)

Outlook: Coach Matt Lash’s UMM Clippers return all five starters and 11 total players from last season’s 13-12 squad, and that experience will be tested against a tall, athletic Jacksonville State team coached by University of Maine alumnus Mike LaPlante. Despite their maturity, the Clippers have received immediate contributions from a pair of freshmen, Footer and Munro. The Gamecocks have a guard-oriented attack, but it’s built around 235-pound senior Bartlett, who makes for an inviting target underneath. Bartlett is one of the better big men in the tourney field, but the Gamecocks don’t have a lot of additional size to help him inside. The Gamecocks have their top seven players back from last season and were picked second in the Atlantic Sun Conference preseason poll.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MAINE VS. BRADLEY

Time, site: Sunday, 2 p.m., Robertson Field House, Peoria, Ill.

Records: Maine 3-3; Bradley 4-2 (entering Friday game)

Series, last meeting: Bradley 1-0; 84-56 on Nov. 23, 2001

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (19.3 points per game, 10.7 rebounds per game), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (12.2 ppg, 3.8 assists per game, 2.5 steals per game), 5-7 G Missy Traversi (9.7 ppg), 6-3 C Abby Schrader (8.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (7.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg), 5-11 F Monica Peterson (5.7 ppg, 7 rpg); Bradley – 5-9 G Sara Bailey (13.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.2 spg), 6-4 C Dena Williams (11.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg), 6-0 F Mandy Sides (10.5 ppg), 5-11 F Genny Mueller (10.3 ppg, 2.3 spg), 5-8 G Rasheeda Love (9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.7 spg), 6-3 C Ashley Chelleen (5.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg)

Outlook: Maine is coming off an impressive 65-58 road win over URI. Bradley played at Northern Illinois Friday night. The Bears will be eager to avenge last year’s 28-point thumping in the Dead River Company Classic. Bailey and Sides lit them up for 22 and 19 points, respectively. Bailey is a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference first-team selection who has scored more points than any player in the league over the past two seasons. Williams has fouled out of two games so the Bears may want to penetrate and try to get her in foul trouble. Ernest and Schrader have also fouled out twice. Maine will look to snap out of its shooting slump as the Bears are shooting just 36.7 percent from the field compared to Bradley’s 43.2 percent. Bradley is 2-0 at home and Maine is 2-2 on the road.