You could almost call Saturday afternoon’s game against Harvard University an “oasis game” for the University of Maine men’s basketball team.

After spending the last two games and the better part of the last week on the road, the Black Bears return to Orono to host the Crimson, and they do it at the friendly and cozy environs of Memorial Gym, better known to some as “The Pit.”

They won’t have long to savor the home cooking, however, because after Saturday’s 2 p.m. game, the Bears go back on the road for four games, and nearly a month, before returning home.

If it wasn’t for the fact the Bears are playing a talented and dangerous Harvard team featuring plenty of size and athleticism, you truly could call it an oasis game. That’s probably why Maine coach Ted Woodward would call it anything but.

“This is a very good team that’s coming here,” Woodward said. “They beat Northeastern [85-75] and we weren’t able to beat them [Northeastern] at all last year.”

Harvard’s leading scorer and toughest defensive draw is 7-foot center Brian Cusworth, who is averaging 16.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

“He’s a force offensively and defensively and some think he has NBA potential,” Woodward said. “I think he presents a problem others don’t because he’s so big, but what makes that even tougher is the balance they have on the team.”

Woodward said his team is looking forward to what they hope will be a raucous home atmosphere that the gym became known for, and thus got its infamous nickname.

“We’re just happy not to be on the road, which is where we’re spending a lot of time early this season,” he said.

The Bears managed to even their record at 2-2 after back-to-back frustrating losses. A win against Harvard would provide a confidence boost as well as a potential springboard into the long road trip with a three-game win streak.

Returning All-America East second-team selection Mark Flavin (4.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg) has struggled so far this season, but fellow senior forward David Dubois has come on strong of late. The native of St.-Gabriel Quebec is coming off a career-best 17-point game. Before his 8-for-10 shooting effort in the win over Dartmouth, Dubois had five points in three games.

The Bears will need both players’ “A” games against this big Crimson squad.

“I think Mark may just be kind of struggling in a funk right now, but the good thing about our team is we have people who can step up,” Woodward said. “All of our returning players can contribute significantly, and I have confidence in all of them, whether they’re struggling or not.”