Bears face battle to avoid America East play-in game

ORONO – If the 2005-06 regular season ended today, the University of Maine men’s basketball team would be the eighth seed among the nine America East schools.

That means the Black Bears, who have advanced at least as far as the league semifinals six of the last seven seasons, would have to play a first-round playoff game against No. 9 Stony Brook University just to get into the quarterfinal round.

Maine’s 69-62 loss to Hartford at Alfond Arena Thursday night dealt a blow to the Black Bears’ postseason positioning hopes only because the Hawks are sixth overall after the win with a 4-5 league mark. Maine is 4-6 heading into Sunday’s road game against second-ranked Binghamton University (9-11 overall and 6-3 in AE play).

The good news is the league standings are so cramped that only one game separates the teams currently ranked fourth through eighth.

The bad news is Maine is currently in the midst of the toughest stretch on its 27-game schedule.

“I look at this as the most difficult part of our schedule, starting with the road game against BU,” said UMaine coach Ted Woodward. “I think Hartford is dangerous with two all-conference players, we have to play Binghamton there, and then we have Albany at home.”

Albany is atop the conference standings at 8-2 with a 13-8 overall record.

“Anything can happen in the playoffs, but we have to play 40 minutes every time from here on out,” said point guard Rashard Turner after Thursday’s loss. “We know there aren’t any games we can slack off in and this is one of those. It was frustrating.”

The Black Bears have six games – three at home – left before playoffs begin March 3.