UMaine Capsules

MEN’S BASKETBALL

MAINE vs. BINGHAMTON

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

Records: Maine 13-7 (7-4 America East); Binghamton 10-12 (6-5)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 3-2, Binghamton 60-46 Jan. 7

Key players: Maine – 6-2 G Kevin Reed (14.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.3 spg), 6-3 G Eric Dobson (13.0 ppg, 5.5 apg, 3.6 rpg), 6-10 F Mark Flavin (11.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.1 bpg), 6-7 G-F Joe Campbell (7.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg), 6-3 G Chris Markwood (5.6 ppg, 2.5 apg); Binghamton – 7-0 C Nick Billings (13.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.5 bpg), 6-3 G Brandon Carter (10.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.6 spg), 6-1 G Troy Hailey (9.4 ppg, 2.5 apg), 6-8 F Alex Adediran (7.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 6-6 F Sebastian Hermenier (5.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg)

Outlook: The Bearcats had won four straight before defending champ Vermont dealt them a 19-point loss Thursday. Binghamton faces a big lineup and the conference’s best big man in Billings. The Bears literally face a tall order, but they also have one of the league’s best rebounding backccourts. If Flavin and David Dubois can at least keep Billings in check and make him work hard in the paint, the Bears’ backcourt should more than hold its own against the Bearcats’ guards. If the key is turnovers, a particular problem for Maine, the Bears may still have an advantage. Binghamton is averaging 17.2 turnovers a game to Maine’s 15.8. Defense will decide this game, and Maine and Binghamton are the AE’s Nos. 2 and 3 teams in scoring defense.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MAINE vs. BINGHAMTON

Time, site: Saturday, 1 p.m.; BU Events Center, Vestal, N.Y.

Records: Maine 14-5 (9-0 America East); Binghamton 11-6 (6-3)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 4-1; Maine 58-55 on 1/7/04

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (17.3 ppg, 9.2 rpg), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (11.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.8 apg, .431 3-pt. FG pct.), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (8.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.7 apg, .903 FT pct.); 6-0 F Monica Peterson (7.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, .500 FG pct.), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt ( 4.9 ppg, 3.7 apg), 6-3 F Abby Schrader (4.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg); Binghamton – 5-11 F Rachel Laws (14.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg), 6-0 F Leala Wegwerth (9.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg), 5-9 G Jen Blues (9.2 ppg, .789 FT pct.), 6-2 C Kristin Hibler (6.1 ppg, .848 FT pct.), 5-10 G Kate Townley (4.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.7 apg, 2.1 spg)

Outlook: The Bears start the second half of the AE season as Binghamton debuts in its new $33.1 million facility. First-place UMaine, winner of nine straight, hopes to ride the momentum from Wednesday’s win over Hartford. The Bearcats have lost two in a row, both on the road. In the first meeting, UMaine built a 14-point lead, but held on to win by three. The Bears must tighten up their post defense, limit dribble penetration and rebound aggressively to neutralize the third-place Bearcats. UMaine leads AE in FG pct. defense (.362), while BU is averaging only 56.8 ppg. The Bears lead the league in rebounding margin (plus-5.2) and rank second in scoring defense (53.0 ppg). BU has allowed 53.6 ppg.