WHO: GW vs. Maine

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Smith Center

Case for Maine:

Compared to a Colonials team whose biggest problem is still on offense, the Black Bears are used to putting up big scoring numbers. Through two regular season games this season, Maine has averaged 94 points per game, most recently scoring 111 in a win over Fisher College.

Despite gaining back sophomore point guard Joe McDonald, the Colonials are still without sophomore forward Patricio Garino – a threat on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Already holding teams to 38.3 percent shooting, the Black Bears will have one less scoring threat to stop and will look to cause further offensive problems for GW.

Case for GW:

Playing in a superior league than the American East Conference, the Colonials are used to competing against higher level teams on a regular basis. One of those teams, University of Rhode Island – whom the Colonials defeated in conference play last year – routed Maine by 20 points, 97-77 in the Black Bears’ season opener.

Picking up the slack for the injured Garino last week was sophomore guard Kethan Savage, who had a career-high in points, rebounds, assists and steals against Radford. Savage will still likely come off the bench for GW, but he serves as a great kick start to an offense that sometimes struggles to score.

Despite Maine’s outside shooting ability (51.1 field goal percentage, 33.3 three point percentage), they average just 39.5 rebounds per game. With changes already in his lineup over the first two games, head coach Ted Woodward appears unsure about whether to go small with three guards or make up for their rebounding inabilities by putting in another big man. Either way, the Colonials’ front court should have no problem controlling the paint.

A win over Maine will give GW its first 2-0 start in four years.

Maine was picked to finish 8th in the American East Pre-season poll.