MAINE vs. BINGHAMTON

Time, site: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 5-9 (0-3 America East), Binghamton 5-9 (2-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 5-4; Binghamton 67-60 on 2/6/05

Key players: Maine – 6-2 G Ernest Turner (16.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg), 6-1 G Jon Sheets (10.0 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.4 rpg), 5-10 G Rashard Turner (9.5 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.0 rpg), 6-4 G Chris Bruff (5.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 6-10 C Olli Ahvenniemi (5.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.3 bpg); Binghamton – 6-3 G Andre Heard (15.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg), 6-6 F Sebastian Hermenier (11.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg), 6-1 G Troy Hailey (10.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg), 6-0 G Mike Gordon (7.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.2 apg), 6-9 F Ian Milne (7.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears are still looking for their first conference win and must contend with another veteran team with solid backcourt depth and good size overall. The addition of Milne, who has developed and carved out quite a bit of playing time (including two starts) as a freshman, gives the Bearcats another big body to share the load with Hermenier. The Bears will be without Philippe Tchekane Bofia, their best rebounder and inside scoring threat, as he serves a league suspension for a flagrant foul, which means Maine’s backcourt must shoot well and contribute enough on the boards to offset what could be a big Bearcats edge in size. Maine will need to knock down some 3s with its smaller lineup and get its transition game cranked up.