AUGUSTA – There were numbers without names on the jerseys of both teams taking the hardwood in front of 3,018 fans on Monday night at the Augusta Civic Center.

Both the members of the Maine Red Claws and the Springfield Armor took to the court for their NBA D-League exhibition game with the knowledge that a total of five players, two for the Armor, and three for the Red Claws, will be gone before Friday’s season opener. Per rules of the D-League, each team can only have 10 players.

The Red Claws had already made two cuts on Sunday, waiving guards James Lewis and Armon Bassett. Both players were selected in the NBA D-League Draft. Lewis, from Fresno Pacific, was selected in the 5th round (67th overall), while Bassett, from Ohio, had been selected in the 8th round (126th overall).

Lamonte Ulmer, a forward from Rhode Island, constitutes as a “bubble player” when the final cuts come around. The second of the second chance players on the Red Claws, Ulmer was the lone player taken by Maine when they held tryouts last month. Though Ulmer made only two points in the game, he made them count, slamming a dunk with seven minutes to play after a steal. He also made his mark on the boards, grabbing 10 rebounds.

Red Claws head coach Austin Ainge has been impressed with Ulmer’s rebounding ability.

“Every time we put him in, he gets double digits rebounds,” Ainge said. “It’s amazing. Both scrimmages, now this, he just rebounds and runs. He’s got some other things we have to work on with him, but his energy and athleticism changes a game.”

Ulmer had his best collegiate season last year as a senior at Rhode Island, scoring 12 points per game, and averaging seven rebounds per game.

For Ulmer, life in the D-League means every practice and game is another tryout.

“Every day is at practice, it’s another tryout,” Ulmer said. “Definitely for me, I’m just trying my hardest, trying to stay with the team. I know, myself, I could make the team. But it’s just me going forth and trying to get more practice in.”

Ainge said at this point he’s not sure who or where the final three cuts will come from.

“It’s going to be a very hard decision,” Ainge said. “They’re all great kids, and they worked so hard in camp and it’s going to break my heart to let any of them go. I don’t know what we’re going to do, but it’s going to break my heart, because they are all good enough to play in this league.”

Regardless of what happens, Ulmer said he’s enjoyed his time thus far with the Red Claws.

“It’s actually been a blessing,” Ulmer said. “Every day you go harder and harder in the tryouts and workouts. This whole camp experience has been amazing for me. There’s no guaranteed spots on the team, so you go out there everyday, going to war for a spot or a position for a team. That’s everyday life. You’re out there in the world, having a job that other people can take over, you’ve just got to apply it to basketball, and just work even harder.”

Notes: The Red Claws beat the Armor 102-88 on Monday night. Second-year Red Claws forward Paul Harris had a double-double on the night, scoring a team-high 17 points while grabbing 10 rebounds. D-League first round draft pick Magnum Rolle and guard Chamberlain Oguchi followed up with 16 points each. Maine was 46 percent from the floor”¦

Sources close to the Red Claws disclosed that guard Mario West has a tryout with an NBA team that cannot be identified due to NBA rules. West played in 11 games with the Red Claws last season, and played in 34 games in the NBA last season with the Atlanta Hawks”¦

The Red Claws open the season at the Portland Expo on Friday night at 7 p.m. against the Austin Toros.

— Contact Dave Dyer at 282-1535 ext. 318.