The University of Maine named its three finalists for athletic director.

Karlton Creech of the University of North Carolina, Jim Herlihy of the University of Montevallo (Alabama) and Scott Kull of Texas Christian University will travel to Orono for interviews beginning next week.

Creech has 18 years of administration experience in college athletics. He has been senior associate director of athletics at UNC in Chapel Hill since 2012 after eight years as associate executive director for UNC’s Rams Club, an athletic and booster club. He also worked for the Student-Aid Association at North Carolina State coordinating national fundraising. He earned a degree in political science from NC State and a master’s in management and leadership from Liberty.

Kull, who grew up in Old Town, has been the associate athletic director for external operations at TCU since 2005. His 21 years of experience in athletic administration includes a stint with a national collegiate sports marketing company and another as director of athletics marketing at Florida State. He earned an undergraduate degree in business and organizational communications from Otterbein University in Ohio and a master’s in sports management from Ohio State.

Herlihy, who grew up in Millinocket, has 25 years of experience in athletic administration. He earned a degree in health and physical education from Plymouth State and a master’s from the University of Alabama before spending 12 years in professional baseball. He was director of operations (Texas Rangers) and general manager (Philadelphia Phillies) of two spring training facilities in Florida. He later was an assistant athletic director at Florida Gulf Coast University before becoming director of athletics, recreation and intramurals at Montevallo in 2008.

A UMaine search committee led by Robert Strong, a professor of finance and NCAA faculty representative, will provide names of recommended candidates to President Paul Ferguson. Seth Woodcock, a senior development officer, has been serving as interim AD since Nov. 18 when Steve Abbott returned to politics after three years as athletic director.

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MEN’S BASKETBALL

USM 85, UM-FARMINGTON 75: Kyle Pluchino had 28 points and 10 rebounds, five assists and five steals, and the Huskies (5-4) got by the Beavers (4-4) in two overtime periods at Farmington Tuesday night.

Pluchino scored five in double overtime, including a 3-pointer with 1:10 left that snapped a 72-all tie, putting Southern Maine ahead for good.

Tyler Penney added 18 points with seven boards and Sean Caddigan scored 15 for the Huskies.

BOWDOIN 92, MAINE MARITIME 44: Keegan Pieri scored 16 points, Lucas Hausman scored 15 and Matt Palecki had 13 points and 11 rebounds as the Polar Bears (8-0) rolled past the Mariners (1-7) at Castine.

(11) KENTUCKY 70, BOISE STATE 55: James Young scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half and Kentucky (8-2) used solid defense to drop visiting Boise State (8-1).

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(19) FLORIDA 67, (13) KANSAS 61: Scottie Wilbekin scored a career-high 18 points, Dorian Finney-Smith added 15 and the Gators (7-2) extended their home winning streak to 21 by holding off the Jayhawks (6-3).

(20) GONZAGA 80, WEST VIRGINIA 76: Przemek Karnowski scored 19 points, Kevin Pangos added 18 and Gonzaga (9-1) came from 10 points down to win at West Virginia.

MEN’S HOCKEY

BOWDOIN 3, USM 3: Connor Quinn scored with 4:51 remaining to draw the Polar Bears (5-3-2) even with the Huskies (4-5-1) at Gorham.

Harry Matheson and Kendall Culbertson also scored for Bowdoin. Stephen Gallo, Lorne Miller and Zach Dymock had Southern Maine’s goals.


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