With its 71-51 victory over UMBC Thursday night, Binghamton University has captured no less than a share of the America East Men's Basketball regular-season title and the top seed for the upcoming America East Championship. The Bearcats, who were led my Emanuel Mayben's 18 points, also earned the right to host the conference championship game should they advance to the final and secured its first-ever postseason berth as a Division I program. Binghamton, which will face either Maine or Hartford in its first tournament game, would receive an NIT bid should it not win the conference title. Darryl Proctor recorded a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Retrievers, who can finish anywhere from fifth to seventh in the conference standings. (See scenarios below)
Vermont, which was idle Thursday, will be the No. 2 seed and can still earn a share of the regular-season title with a win at Maine Sunday, the school's third crown in five years.
Boston University had already locked up the No. 3 seed, but solidified its standing with a 76-65 win over Maine. John Holland led the way with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Jake O'Brien added 18 points and nine boards. Maine, which got 16 points from Gerald McLemore, assured itself of the No. 8 seed with the loss and will face No. 9 Hartford in the first round on Friday, March 6.
Stony Brook can finish no worse than fifth after its 62-40 win at Hartford. Muhammad El-Amin poured in a game-high 21 points for the Seawolves, who have won more games (8) in conference play than in any of its previous seven seasons in the league. Hartford, which was led by 14 points from Jaret von Rosenberg, will be seeded ninth the conference tournament.
New Hampshire swept the season series from Albany with a 64-56 win behind a game-high 20 points from Tyrece Gibbs. The Wildcats, who have assured their best conference finish since the 2005-06 season, can earn the No. 4 seed with a win over Stony Brook Sunday. The Great Danes, who were led by 11 points from Tim Ambrose, will finish sixth with a win over at UMBC Sunday and seventh with a loss.
UMBC will host Albany and Stony Brook will travel to New Hampshire Sunday in the games with the biggest seeding implications. In other action, Vermont goes to Maine and Boston University entertains Hartford at Agganis Arena.
2009 America East Men's Basketball Championship
First Three Rounds at SEFCU Arena (Albany, N.Y.)
Championship Game at Highest Remaining Seed
First Round - Friday, March 6
Game 1 - No. 8 Maine vs No. 9 Hartford, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals - Saturday, March 7 (All Games On Time Warner Cable)
Game 2 - No. 2 Vermont vs No. 7*, 12 p.m.
Game 3 - No. 3 Boston University vs. No. 6$, 2:30 p.m.
Game 4 - No. 1 Binghamton vs Winner Game 1, 6 p.m.
Game 5 - NO. 4^ vs No. 5!, 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals - Sunday, March 8
Game 6 - Winner Game 2 vs Winner Game 3, 2 p.m. (Live on Time Warner Cable, TD on Comcast Sportsnet at 7 p.m.)
Game 7 - Winner Game 4 vs Winner Game 5, 5 p.m. (Comcast Sportsnet, Time Warner Cable)
Final - Saturday, March 14
Game 8 - Winner Game 6 vs Winner Game 7, 11 a.m. (ESPN 2)
^ Winner of Sunday's Stony Brook at New Hampshire matchup will be No. 4 seed
! UMBC will be No. 5 seed with a win vs Albany Sunday and a Stony Brook win at New Hampshire
New Hampshire will be No. 5 seed with a loss vs Stony Brook Sunday AND an Albany win at UMBC
Stony Brook will be No. 5 seed with a loss at New Hampshire Sunday
$ Albany will be No. 6 seed with a win at UMBC Sunday
UMBC will be No. 6 seed with a win vs Albany Sunday AND a New Hampshire win vs Stony Brook
New Hampshire will be No. 6 seed with a loss vs Stony Brook Sunday AND a UMBC win vs Albany
* Loser of Sunday's Albany at UMBC matchup will be No. 7 seed