MEN’S BASKETBALL

MAINE vs. BOSTON UNIVERSITY

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

Records: Maine 16-7 (10-4 America East); Boston U. 19-3 (13-1)

Series, last meeting: BU leads 38-42, BU 71-65 1/21/04

Key players: Maine – 6-2 G Kevin Reed (14.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.4 spg), 6-3 G Eric Dobson (12.8 ppg, 5.3 apg, 3.7 rpg), 6-10 F Mark Flavin (11.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.1 bpg), 6-7 G-F Joe Campbell (7.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 6-3 G Chris Markwood (5.9 ppg, 2.6 apg, 1.7 rpg); BU – 6-0 G Chaz Carr (13.2 ppg, 2.8 apg), 6-8 F Rashad Bell (11.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg), 6-6 F Jason Grochowalski (9.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg), 6-8 F Ryan Butt (9.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 6-2 G Shaun Wynn (7.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.0 spg)

Outlook: The Black Bears are still among the league leaders in almost every statistical category and their scoring margin is third best with 64.5 points scored and 57.9 allowed per game. The Terriers are tops with 68 points scored and 57.7 allowed, and also tops in rebounding margin with 2.9 more per game than their opponents. Maine is averaging 0.1 less per game than opponents. This game could mean the difference between second and fourth place for the Black Bears. A win helps them more than a loss hurts them, but Maine’s players would like nothing better than to snap their current five-game losing streak to the Terriers while at the same time extending their own five-game conference win streak.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MAINE vs. BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Time, site: Wednesday, 7 p.m.; Case Gym “The Roof,” Boston

Records: Maine 17-5 (12-0 America East); Boston U. (14-7, 9-3 AE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 33-18; Maine 73-65 on 1/21/04

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (16.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (11.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, .413 3-pt. pct.), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (8.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg,.423 3-pt. pct.), 6-0 F Monica Peterson (7.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, .516 FG pct.), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (5.7 ppg, 3.5 apg), 6-3 F Abby Schrader (4.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg); BU – 6-0 G Katie Terhune (17.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.0 spg, .836 FT pct.), 6-2 F Becky Bonner (13.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, .425 3-pt. pct.), 6-1 F Adrienne Norris (9.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.4 spg), 6-2 F Marisa Moseley (6.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 5-9 G Rachel Vanderwal (4.0 ppg, 2.6 apg)

Outlook: The two hottest teams in America East meet for the second time this season. The Bears have won 12 straight and 28 consecutive regular season league games. The Terriers, winners of seven in a row, were the last AE team to beat UMaine, in the 2003 title game. The Bears’ ability to create and score points off turnovers was a key in the first game, when Veilleux scored a career-high 26. UMaine must contest Terhune and Bonner at the 3-point arc and limit BU’s penetration, which has yielded a league-high 265 foul shots in AE play. BU leads the conference in scoring (69.3 ppg), while UMaine is tops in scoring defense (51.2 ppg), FG pct. defense (.352) and rebounding margin (plus-5.1).