The Boston University men’s basketball team is in a slump.
Losers of two-straight games to conference opponents — albeit by a combined total of six points — the Terriers have hit a bump in the road of their long season. The preseason pick to finish first in America East, a BU loss to the University of Maine Friday night would drop BU to third in the conference with just five games left on the schedule.
The Terriers have stumbled on hard times after enjoying the benefits of a six-game win streak through much of January. BU will try to stop a surging Maine team (9-11, 6-3 America East) when the two meet for the first time this season. Besides the long trip to Orono, the Terriers must halt a four-game Black Bears win streak that has brought them to third in the America East standings.
After playing its worst basketball of the season in a 44-42 loss to the University of Hartford at Case Gymnasium on Jan. 29, BU bounced back to score 85 points before bowing to the University of Vermont in overtime on Saturday in Burlington. The Catamounts (16-5, 9-1 America East) now lead the conference by two games and have bit the Terriers twice for wins this season.
Although it comes as no consolation, the Terriers shot 45 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line on Saturday, both better than season averages. BU also grabbed nine more rebounds than Vermont. Junior guard Paul Seymour led the way with 19 points off the bench and freshman guard Chaz Carr played a career-high 42 minutes while scoring 15 points.
One positive sign for Friday night: BU has not lost three-straight games all season.
The America East is getting the word out for its conference tournaments, which are set for the first week of March. During Monday night’s Beanpot hockey games, promos appeared on the FleetCenter jumbotron several times encouraging fans to attend the end-of-season fiestas. Northeastern University will host the men’s tourney, while the women play at Hartford. Like every year, tournament games fall during BU’s Spring Break. Both tournament winners receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament even though the America East ranks 28th out of the 31 nationwide.
Both Hartford and Maine have been charging in the America East as of late. The Hawks have won five out their last seven games, including victories over the top two teams in the conference, BU and Vermont. Maine, meanwhile, has won four in a row, with all wins coming against teams with losing records.
Saturday’s loss to Vermont was the first on the road this season for the Terriers. They are now 5-1 away from Case Gymnasium … Sophomore guard Kevin Fitzgerald quietly leads the team with 72 assists this season. Carr is second with 58 … The 89 points scored by Vermont was the most tallied against BU since the University of Iowa scored 90 on Nov. 14.
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