ORONO, Maine – The University of Maine men's basketball team looks to close out 2018 on a high note, traveling to Rutgers for a 3:00 p.m. tip-off on Saturday in Piscataway. The game will be broadcasted on Big Ten Network Plus, with Jim Churchill on the airwaves locally on 102.9 WCYR FM, along with audio streams available on goblackbears.com and the TuneIn app.
LAST TIME OUT: Despite two clutch game-tying three-pointers from
Sergio El Darwich at the end of regulation and the first overtime, the Maine Black Bears could not overcome an outstanding free throw performance from Central Connecticut State, falling to the Blue Devils in double-overtime at the Cross Insurance Center on Saturday afternoon. El Darwich, who garnered a career-high 26 points (10-16, 4-8 3PT), poured in 11 points alone in the overtime periods to lead the Black Bears offensively.
Isaiah White neared career-high marks with 22 points, while grabbing six boards in 47 minutes played.
THE SERIES: Maine takes on Rutgers for the fourth-time ever on Saturday and the for the first time since 2005. The Scarlet Knights have won all three of the previous meetings, holding victories in the 2005-06 season (91-56), the 1959-60 season (72-63) at Memorial Gym in Orono and the first meeting in 1924 (58-29).
SCOUTING MAINE: The Black Bears look to bounce back after coming up short in a double-overtime thriller in the Cross Insurance Center against Central Connecticut State last Saturday. El Darwich looks to continue his hot streak with two 20-plus point performances in two of his last three games. The junior guard from Lebanon now averages 9.6 points per game, which is third-best for the Black Bears. El Darwich has been very efficient from the floor in 2018-19, knocking down 55.4 percent of his field goal attempts.
Isaiah White has been a consistent source for offense, reaching double-figures in scoring in five consecutive contests, including a 22-point performance against the Blue Devils. Among America East players,
Andrew Fleming ranks first in minutes played (36.7 per game), sixth in field goal percentage (.483), eighth in rebounding (6.4 rpg), 10
th in assists (4.1 apg) and 16
th in scoring (13.2 ppg).
SCOUTING RUTGERS: The Scarlett Knights snapped a four-game losing skid with a 68-65 overtime win over Columbia on Dec. 22 to enter the holiday season on a bright note. Rutgers hung tough with nationally-ranked No. 9/8 Michigan State (78-67) and No. 12/16 Wisconsin (69-64) and BIG EAST foe Seton Hall (72-66) during the skid, but also. Dropped a 78-70 contest to Fordham on Dec. 8 in the Bronx. Eugene Omoruyi and Geo Baker lead Rutgers in scoring, averaging 15.9 ppg and 14.4 ppg, respectively. Omoruyi ranks fifth in the Big 10 in rebounding, pulling down an impressive 8.8 boards per game, which ranks 55
th nationally.
UP NEXT: Maine closes out the non-conference slate on the road against its third and final Ivy League foe of the season in Brown on Jan. 2. The opening tip in Providence is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
-UMaine-
