Preview: Maine Black Bears at New Hampshire Wildcats LEE, N.H. (Interstat) — Two America East men’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Saturday when the New Hampshire Wildcats host the Maine Black Bears at Lundholm Gym. Both squads enter the contest on losing streaks. The visiting Black Bears (6-20) have dropped three straight, most recently a 58-67 home loss to NJIT on Feb. 14. The Wildcats (8-17) have lost four consecutive games, including a 56-78 defeat at Massachusetts-Lowell on Thursday. New Hampshire won the season’s first meeting handily, 65-48, in Orono on Jan. 19. Maine will look to junior guard Logan Carey to spark its offense. Carey is coming off a 20-point, 7-rebound performance against NJIT and has scored 16 or more points in three of his last six outings, including a 28-point effort at UMass Lowell on Jan. 31. His consistency will be key for a Black Bears team that has struggled to find scoring depth. The Wildcats counter with sophomore forward Belal El Shakery, who posted 16 points in the loss to UMass Lowell. He has been a steady presence, averaging 10.3 points over his last seven games and recording a 14-rebound performance against UMBC on Feb. 14. His activity on both ends will be crucial for New Hampshire. Despite their records, both teams have shown an ability to compete within the conference. Maine earned a notable 76-70 victory over Vermont on Feb. 5, while New Hampshire secured a triple-overtime win over Binghamton on Jan. 22 and a home win over UMass Lowell on Jan. 29. The matchup pits Maine’s search for a road win against a New Hampshire team desperate to defend its home court and halt its skid. With the America East tournament approaching, Saturday’s game represents a critical opportunity for either team to build confidence and improve its seeding. Following this game, Maine will visit Albany on Feb. 26. New Hampshire travels to Binghamton on the same date.