ORONO, Maine – After tough loss on the road against Central Connecticut State on Wednesday night, the UMaine men's basketball team returns to action on Friday, battling regional foe UMass. Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m. at the Mullins Center.
 

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THE SERIES: The Black Bears and Minutemen meet for the 59^th time on Friday, with UMass holding a 41-17 advantage in the all-time series. The two New England area schools are facing off for the first time since the 2009-10, when Maine won a 68-56 at the Mullins Center. Gerald McLemore registered 12 points to lead three Black Bears in double-figures, while Malachi Peay recorded 10 points, five assists, and four rebounds. Troy Barnies grabbed 10 boards to lead Maine off the glass.
 
LAST TIME OUT: After falling behind late in the first half, the Maine Black Bears could not come back from the early deficit, dropping a road matchup to Central Connecticut State, 84-57 at Detrick Gymnasium. With the loss, Maine drops to 3-10 on the season, while Central Connecticut State climbs to 6-6. Aaron Calixte was a bright spot for Maine, leading the Black Bears with 16 points. The redshirt sophomore reached double-figures in scoring for the 11^th consecutive game, and for the 12^th time in 13 total games this season.
 
A LOOK AT UMASS: The Minuemen enter Friday's contest following a 71-63 home loss to Georgia State. The loss marked UMass's first home loss of the season, as all six of the Minutemen's wins on the season have come at the Mullins Center. Maine and UMass have played a mutual opponent in Quinnipiac, with the Black Bears earning a 78-72 win on Nov. 26, while the Minutemen were upset by Quinnipiac by a score of 68-66 on Nov. 29. UMass owns a win over Big East foe Providence, downing the Friars 72-63 on Dec. 9. Offensively, Luwayne Pipkings averages 18.3 points per game to lead the Minutemen, while Rashaan Holloway (9.7), Carl Pierre (9.3), and C.J. Anderson (9.0) all average over nine points per contest. As a team, UMass is shoots 45.4 percent from the field and 37.8 from 3-point range.
 
30 FOR 30: Aaron Calixte has made 30 consecutive free throws attempts; which spans Maine's last eight games. He last missed from the charity stripe in his first attempt against Quinnipiac on Nov. 26. The redshirt junior needs to convert his next three free throw attempts to break Skip Chappelle's school record of 32 consecutive makes in the 1960-61 season. Shooting 91 percent (45/49) from the charity stripe on the season, Calixte ranks 27^th in the country.
 
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL: In Maine's last game against Central Connecticut State, the Black Bears turned the ball over just eight times, which is half of what Maine was averaging entering Wednesday's game. Over the last three games, Maine averaging just 10.3 turnovers per contest.
 
UP NEXT: After the holidays, Maine wraps up 2017 and non-conference play with a trip to New York City to play Ivy League's Columbia on Dec. 30. Tipoff is slated for 2:00 p.m. at Levien Gymnasium.
 
-UMaine-