ORONO, Maine – Following a tough loss to Dartmouth, the University of Maine Black Bears men's basketball team looks to get back in the win column on Monday night against Maine-Machias at the Cross Insurance Center. The opening tip against the Clippers is slated for 7:00 p.m. in Bangor.
 
SOCK DRIVE: Prior the game, the men's basketball team will be holding a sock drive at all entrances at the Cross Insurance Center. Fans that donate a brand-new pair of socks, hat or mittens will receive a discount for a $5 ticket to a future men's basketball game this season. The socks, hats and mittens will be donated to the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, which is in dire need of socks following a record-cold November. The Black Bears learned of the need after volunteering at the shelter on Thanksgiving. "Over Thanksgiving, our team was able to spend some time at the Bangor Homeless Shelter and with their residents," explained head coach Richard Barron. "We were all touched by their stories and asked what we could do to help. One of the items needed most was warm socks. Well we're on it. Please join us in donating new pairs of socks and gloves and help someone less fortunate stay warm this winter."
 
SCOUTING MAINE: Isaiah White tied a game-high with 18 points, but Maine could not keep up with the hot-shooting Big Green, falling to Dartmouth 78-52 last Saturday in Hanover. Andrew Fleming reached double-figures for the fourth-consecutive contest and for the eighth game in 10 games with 10 points. Vilgot Larsson drained four of his eight field goal attempts, including 2-of-4 from long distance. Larsson and Vincent Eze led the Black Bears with five rebounds apiece off the glass. Over his last four games, Fleming is averaging 18 points per game, 8.0 rebounds, while shooting over 54 percent from the floor (28-51 FG) and 66.7 percent from long range (8-12).White has added 13 points per game in the past four games against Princeton, Saint Peter's, Fordham and Dartmouth.
 
SCOUTING MAINE-MACHIAS: The Clippers are 4-5 on the season, currently on a three-game losi­­ng streak in December. ­­Dante Ramos (19.9 ppg) and Trey Thompson (13.3 ppg) pace the offense, averaging double-figures in scoring. Thompson leads the Clippers and USCAA in rebounding, 11.3 rebounds per contest.  Ramos adds 8.9 boards as the second leading Clipper of the glass. Thompson has made 57.5 percent of his field goals this season.
 
UP NEXT: Maine looks to pick up another win against an Atlantic-10 school on Saturday, heading to Pittsburgh to play Duquesne. Tip-off in the Steel City is scheduled for noon.

-UMaine-