Jan. 28, 2008

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BOSTON - Hoping to stop a two-game skid, the Boston University men's basketball team heads north to Orono, Maine to face Maine in Alfond Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Both the Terriers (5-14, 2-5 America East) and the Black Bears (6-14, 2-5 AE) are looking to pick up a win, as UM dropped a 69-58 contest to Binghamton last Sunday.

This is one of BU's oldest rivalries, dating back to the 1902-03 season - a 14-12 loss to Maine. The Terriers hold a 48-38 lead. Over the years, BU has been able to put together more winning streaks than UM, with three strings of seven or more straight wins. The Black Bears' longest streak stands at seven games (from Jan. 30, 1991 to Jan. 28, 1993). BU has won 12 of the last 14 contests, and the Terriers' average margin of victory throughout the rivalry is 12.8 points.

Maine and BU have been leap-frogging each other in the conference standings over the past few weeks. The Black Bears came into the AE season with a 4-9 mark and losses to Florida State and Connecticut. UM has a 2-5 league mark, with its two wins coming over UMBC, 77-74, and Albany, 81-70. Sophomore guard Mark Socoby leads the Black Bears with 13.3 ppg and 5.9 rebounds per game. Three other Maine players average double figures - Junior Bernal, Kaimondre Owes and Brian Andre (10.4 ppg off the bench).

Sophomore guard Corey Lowe (Newton, Mass.) is BU's leading scorer with 18.6 ppg. He is ranked 12th in the nation in made 3-pointers per game (3.8) but has missed the last three contests with a knee problem. Red-shirt sophomore Tyler Morris (Indianapolis, Ind.) and freshman John Holland (Bronx, N.Y.) have come on lately for the Terriers. In America East contests, Holland averages 12.0 ppg with Morris right behind averaging 10.4 ppg.

In the loss to UVM, Morris and Holland each tallied 13 points to lead BU. Sophomore guard Carlos Strong (Portland, Maine) added 11. Marqus Blakely had a double-double of 17 points and 18 rebounds for Vermont. The teams stayed together early before Vermont strung out a nine-point lead 10 minutes into the game. Boston University fought back with a 12-2 run, fueled by 10 free throws, that gave the Terriers the lead going into the break, 25-24. BU and UVM exchanged baskets in the opening minutes of the second half, but the Catamounts took the lead for good at 15:52 on a three by Mike Trimboli. The Terriers cut the advantage to three, 52-49 at 5:46, but Vermont held on for the win.

Next up, BU heads to UNH on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 4 p.m.