MAINE vs. ALASKA-FAIRBANKS

Time, site: 7:30 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 3-1, Alaska-Fairbanks 1-3

Series, last meeting: First meeting

Key players: Maine – 6-2 G Huggy Dye (14.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 6-10 F Julian Dunkley (17.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg), 6-6 F Carvell Ammons (9.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg), 6-3 G Errick Greene (8.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg), 6-2 G Derrick Jackson (6.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg); Alaska-Fairbanks – 6-7 F Bogdan Popescu (20.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg through three games), 5-10 G Travis Knutson (2.0 ppg), 6-3 G Tommy Servine (11.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 6-4 F Mike Van Woudenberg (11.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg), 6-2 G Ryan Foppe (3.0 ppg)

Outlook: The Black Bears have started well but can’t afford a letdown against the Division II Nanooks. Popescu is a force down low and will test UMaine’s frontcourt defenders, and the Nanooks have enough perimeter shooters to make things interesting: They trailed Villanova by one point at the half in an exhibition on Tuesday. If the Black Bears can shake off the effects of a five-day road trip and play intense, aggressive defense from the outset, they should be all right. Don’t let the Nanooks’ Division II status fool you: Their schedule is testy and they haven’t faced a non-Division I opponent yet. The game marks a homecoming of sorts for Nanooks coach Al Sokaitis, who coached at the University of Southern Maine from 1990-96.