Freshman Troy Barnies of Auburn will miss at least a couple of weeks of action for the University of Maine men’s basketball team due to a fractured bone in his left wrist.

Barnies, who suffered the injury during the team’s Nov. 2 exhibition game against Dalhousie University, said he’s on pace for a quicker-than-expected recovery.

“I was supposed to be out four to five weeks, but it wasn’t that severe and I’ve been healing a lot faster than I’m supposed to,” said the 6-foot-7, 205-pound forward. “I should be back in two weeks and can play as soon as I get back.”

Barnies is attending practices but is limited as far as his participation.

“Right now, all I’m doing in practice is just running and conditioning work with the team,” said the 18-year-old Barnies. “When they do drills with the basketball, I’m on the sidelines running.”

Barnies said he hopes to be able to do more drills after a checkup with his doctor next Wednesday.

The Bears host St. Francis College at Alfond Arena at 7 p.m. Saturday before a Wednesday road game against Quinnipiac at Hamden, Conn.

Healthy returns for Andre, Hight

The 2007-08 season has been a rebirth of sorts for UMaine men’s basketball players Brian Andre and Jason Hight.

Although the season is only three games old, both feel rejuvenated in their second go-around with the Black Bears.

“Last year, I was out of shape and this year, I feel like I’m still not in the best shape I want to be, but it’s working and I’m getting better every day,” said the 6-foot-9, 300-pound Andre, who played in 11 of UMaine’s 30 games last season.

The senior center from Bingham made five starts and averaged 3.3 points and 3.0 rebounds over the course of the season while battling recurring injuries. This season, Andre is averaging 12.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Andre, Maine’s top scorer the last two games, leads the team in scoring.

“He’s in much better shape than what he was and a big key is the fact he’s been able to stay injury-free and play with us seven straight weeks,” said Maine head coach Ted Woodward. “I also think he has room for more improvement. I still think he has another level in him and he’s just scratching the surface of where he can be.”

Redshirt sophomore Hight of Westbrook, a freshman walk-on in 2004-05, looked solid in Maine’s home opener Tuesday night with a team-leading six assists.

“To me, just being stronger has helped. Putting on extra weight has helped me be strong with the ball and get to my spots easier,” said the 6-4, 182-pound guard. “The stronger you are, the more conditioned you are and I feel a lot better early and late in the game this year.”

The 22-year-old Hight, who said he was bothered by leg pain in the past, is averaging 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game so far this season.

“I thought Jay Hight gave us a jolt [Tuesday] and we need people to fill leadership voids to get us to that next spot,” Woodward said. “It was a noticeable thing for him to give us a big lift.”

Stilphen signs with UM baseball

With the Class B football state championship scheduled for Saturday, baseball might be the furthest thing from the mind of Gardiner senior quarterback Kyle Stilphen.

However, it will be on the baseball diamond that Stilphen continues his athletic career at the college level.

Stilphen has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball for coach Steve Trimper at the University of Maine beginning next fall.

Trimper won’t comment on the signing until UMaine has received letters from all of its 2008 recruits.

The 5-foot-10 Stilphen predominately played shortstop and pitched at Gardiner High School. Because of his versatility and athleticism, he could wind up playing infield or outfield for the Black Bears.

Stilphen was an All-Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference first-team choice and the league’s player of the year in 2007.

The Tigers reached the Eastern Maine Class A semifinals last spring, losing to Brewer.