UMaine capsules

Men’s Hockey

MAINE vs. PROVIDENCE

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 8-3-1 (3-3-1 Hockey East); Providence 4-9-1 (3-5-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 53-33-4, Maine 5-2 on 1/21/06

Key players: Maine – C Michel Leveille (11 goals, 8 assists), RW Teddy Purcell (5 goals, 10 assists), LW Josh Soares (4 & 10), LW Billy Ryan (2 & 7), D Bret Tyler (1 & 7), D Mike Lundin (2 & 5), G Ben Bishop (8-3-1, 2.04 goals-against average, .917 save percentage); Providence – LW Jon Rheault (4 & 4), C Tony Zancanaro (3 & 5), C Nick Mazzolini (3 & 5), RW Colin McDonald (6 & 1), RW Pierce Norton (3 & 3), D Cody Wild (0 & 6), G Tyler Sims (3-6-1, 2.67, .902)

Outlook: Both teams are desperate for a win. Providence is 2-5 in its last seven while Maine has lost three straight, including two at home. Maine hasn’t lost three consecutive home games since 2000. The Bears need to play with urgency and get to the Friars net front. The Bears generated few second shots in Saturday’s 3-2 loss at Vermont and didn’t score until the game’s final 31 seconds. PC has killed off the opponents’ last 29 power plays while Maine’s power play is only 4 for its last 31. Leveille, who suffered a back injury at Vermont, will be in the lineup and is Maine’s leading scorer against the Friars with five goals and seven assists. PC coach Tim Army said his team has been doing a lot of things well but hasn’t been burying its chances and has been taking too many unnecessary penalties. The teams have split their last six meetings.

Men’s Basketball

MAINE vs. N.J. INSTITUTE of TECHNOLOGY

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m., Fleisher Events Center, Newark, N.J.

Records: Maine 3-4, New Jersey Tech 2-4 Series, last meeting: first meeting

Key players: Maine – 6-5 G Junior Bernal (12.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.9 apg), 6-3 G Kevin Reed (11.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg), 6-1 G Jon Sheets (10.7 ppg, 3.0 apg), 6-6 F Tchekane Bofia (10.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg), 6-6 G Mark Socoby (8.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.1 apg), 6-4 F Chris Bruff (8.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg); N.J.I.T. – 5-10 G Clayton Barker (10.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.3 apg), 6-5 G-F Kraig Peters (10.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 6-8 F Nesho Milosevic (9.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg), 6-2 F Marc Swan Milbourne (5.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg), 6-1 G Andrew Engel (6.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg), 6-9 C Dan Stonkus (4.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg)

Outlook: The Highlanders feature good size and scoring punch off the bench with Milosevic and 6-2 guard Alex Stone. Maine will need to get production from its deep bench and rotate guards to keep up its defensive pressure, get on the break more, and wear down the Highlanders, who are making 18.7 turnovers per game. Opponents are outrebounding NJIT 35.5 to 32.7 per game while Maine is averaging 37.1. NJIT is averaging 54.3 points and being outscored by an average of 10.4 ppg. Coming off a big, come-from-behind win over Northeast Conference member Mount St. Mary’s, Maine is outscoring opposition 66.4 to 63.9 ppg. Maine’s physical guards give it an exploitable advantage over NJIT.