Binghamton University’s men’s basketball team outplayed expectations in the first half of the America East season. As the players and coaches prepare to meet each conference team for the second time, Binghamton (12-8, 5-3 AE) will start the semester with a rematch against the University of Maine (8-13, 3-5 AE) tomorrow afternoon at the Events Center.

The Black Bears are in a three-way tie for sixth place, but have shown flashes of impressive play, including a win over Albany.

“Maine is a good team,” said head coach Kevin Broadus. “They are up and coming and they are big and physical. Our job is to stay focused.”

Binghamton is tied for third place with Albany and may have the opportunity to move up the standings in the coming week, as the Great Danes will soon face second-place Boston University and first-place Vermont.

Junior Mark Socoby leads Maine with 13.3 points per game, but he shoots just .374 from the field. Freshman Gerald McLemore, an All-Rookie candidate, is second on the team with 11.4 per game. Maine’s best interior player is Sean McNally, a 6-foot-7-inch forward who is one of the conference’s top rebounders.

In their first game since ringing in the New Year, the Bearcats downed the Black Bears, 70-62.

If Maine wants a chance to upset the Bearcats, they will need to play better defense than they did when the teams first met. Maine let Binghamton shoot 51 percent from the field and 47 percent on 3-pointers. Bearcats leading scorer D.J. Rivera had 24 points, but the Black Bears stayed in the game thanks to 14 offensive rebounds and a 32-18 advantage in free-throw attempts.

“The biggest mistake we made [against UMBC] was that we played for 30 minutes,” Broadus said. “We’ve gotta play for the full 40 minutes. Just keep on rebounding and making those points.”

Junior transfer Tiki Mayben scored 10 points in the affair, while dishing out six assists.

The Bearcats are coming off a loss to UMBC in which they were again outrebounded and shot just 13 free throws to the Retrievers’ 32.

Prior to the game, the athletics department is sponsoring Winter Madness, a pre-game indoor tailgate party in the West Gym to commemorate the 10th anniversary of BU’s move to Division I. According to Or Raitses of BU Athletics’ external affairs, the pre-game will be an opportunity for students to “get out of their dorms, away from the cold weather and enjoy a great game.”

A record crowd is expected tomorrow, and Broadus is really looking forward to it.

“When I was at Georgetown, it was great to play in front of 21,000 people,” he said. “That feeling when I walk out onto the [Events Center] court is no different. I hope our players don’t take it for granted. I look forward to seeing them.”

The party will include food and entertainment, plus a bar for those 21 years and older. It runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the game tip-off is set for 2 p.m.