Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. ALBANY

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

Records: Maine 7-16 (3-7 America East), Albany 12-12 (7-5)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 7-6, Maine 81-70 on 1/23/08

Key players: Maine – 6-5 G Mark Socoby (14.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.1 apg), 6-4 G Kaimondre Owes (12.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.1 apg), 6-5 G Junior Bernal (11.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.2 apg), 6-9 C Brian Andre (9.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 6-6 F Philippe Tchekane Bofia (5.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg), 6-7 F Sean McNally (5.0 pp, 4.3 rpg); Albany – 6-5 G-F Brian Lillis (16.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.9 spg), 6-8 F Brian Connelly (10.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg), 6-8 F Brent Wilson (9.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 5-9 G Jon Iati (8.0 ppg, 2.0 apg), 6-5 F Jerel Hastings (5.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg), 6-0 G Tim Ambrose (7.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears are still looking for their first home conference win this season, but are coming off an overtime win which proved a good test of their resiliency and leadership. Maine is scoring at a 65.3 ppg clip and outrebounding foes 36.8 to 34.1 per game, but its 18.7 turnovers per game have been problematic. Maine may present a matchup problem for the Great Danes, who are just 3-3 in their last six games, as Maine is much bigger overall at center and in the backcourt. The Bears committed a season-low 13 turnovers against Albany last time and must keep that number in the same neighborhood again to win. They must also neutralize or hold their own vs. Connelly and Wilson on the glass.