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CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--Numerous America East men's and women's basketball teams will host home openers on Friday, while others will get their seasons underway on the road.
Among home openers, Boston University hosts St. Bonaventure at 5 p.m. on Friday at Case Gym. The Stony Brook and UMBC women will host Iona and #13 George Washington, respectively, on their home courts. The Seawolves will begin at 7 p.m. The Retrievers' start time is 7:30, proceeding the 2007 America East Championship banner-raising ceremony at the RAC Arena.
Other teams in action on Friday:
Men
St. Bonaventure at Boston University, 5 p.m.
Terriers (12-18) are preseason No. 1 in America East led by sophomore class including Tyler Morris (13.4 ppg) and Corey Lowe (14.1 ppg).
Hartford at St. Francis (N.Y.), 7 p.m.
Joe Zeglinski (12.7 ppg) and Jaret Von Rosenberg (10.5 ppg) had immediate impact for Hawks a year ago... Hawks (13-18) are picked sixth in preseason coaches poll this season.
Vermont at George Mason, 7 p.m.
Catamounts are coming off a 25-8 season and school's first NIT bid... Mike Trimboli (15.8 ppg) is the top returning scorer in America East... Vermont is one of two teams in the nation to have appeared in its conference final a minimum of five-straight years (Gonzaga, 10-straight WCC championship games)... game will air live on MASN.
Stony Brook at Villanova, 7 p.m.
Ricky Lucas (15.2 ppg) and Mitchell Beauford (12.2 ppg) give the Seawolves the top scoring duo in America East... Villanova head coach Jay Wright is a two-time America East Coach of the Year (2000, 01)... Seawolves (9-20 in 2006-07) are picked seventh in coaches poll.
Women
Iona at Stony Brook, 7 p.m.
In last year's contest in New Rochelle, the Seawolves defeated Iona, 76-55... This is Michele Cherry's debut as head coach of Stony Brook.
Albany at Indiana, 7 p.m.
The Great Danes face a formidable Big Ten squad in their season opener... Albany faced just one Big Ten opponent last year, dropping to Wisconsin on December 10.
Maine at Clemson, 7 p.m.
The Black Bears upset the Tigers, 80-78, last season in the Dead River Company Classic... This is Cindy Blodgett's ('98) first game as head coach of Maine.
Vermont at Massachusetts, 7 p.m.
The Catamounts have won 10 of the last 11 season openers... This is the earliest date in the program's history that UVM has tipped off a season
George Washington at UMBC, 7:30 p.m.
The Retrievers pick up with the high-level of competition they finished with last season (UConn in NCAA tourney) with the 13th-ranked Colonials.