STONY BROOK, N.Y. -- With its 82-78 victory over Vermont Wednesday night, Stony Brook University clinched its first-ever America East Men's Basketball regular-season title and the top seed for the upcoming America East Championship. The Seawolves, who were led by Muhammad El-Amin's 23 points, also secured its first-ever postseason berth as a Division I program.
Stony Brook, which would receive an NIT bid should it not win the conference title, will face either Albany or UMBC in the quarterfinals.
The Retrievers, who romped New Hampshire, 79-50, behind 23 points from Chris De La Rosa on Wednesday, finish their season with three league victories. Albany, which fell to Maine, 66-53, would surpass the Retievers for the No. 8 seed with a win at Hartford Sunday. The Great Danes hold the tiebreak over UMBC due to their season series sweep.
Murphy Burnatowski scored a career-high 18 points as Maine secured no lower than the No. 3 seed with its win over Albany. The Black Bears and can still finish second, which would match their highest-ever finish, with a win at Boston University Saturday and a Vermont loss to Binghamton Sunday.
One quarterfinal matchup is set with No. 4 Boston University taking on No. 5 Binghamton. The Bearcats locked in its standing with a win over 66-53 win over Hartford Wednesday.
Hartford, which will host the league's first ever combined Men's and Women's Championship, can earn the No. 6 seed with a win over Albany Sunday. UNH would be sixth with a win over Stony Brook Sunday and a loss by the Hawks.
2010 America East Men's & Women's Basketball Championship
Presented by Newman's Own
First Three Rounds at Chase Family Arena (West Hartford, Conn.)
Championship Game at Highest Remaining Seed
Men's Bracket
First Round - Thursday, March 4 (Free Live Video at www.AmericaEast.tv)
Game 1 - ^No. 8 seed vs. %No. 9 seed, 30 minutes following conclusion of prior game (approx. 8:15 p.m.)
Quarterfinals - Saturday, March 6 (Free Live Video at www.AmericaEast.tv)
Game 2 - No. 1 Stony Brook vs. Winner Game 1, 12:05 p.m.
Game 3 - No. 4 Boston U. vs. No. 5 Binghamton, 30 minutes following conclusion of prior game
Game 4 - !No. 2 seed vs. #No. 7 seed, 6:05 p.m.
Game 5 - *No. 3 seed vs. $No. 6 seed, 30 minutes following conclusion of prior game
Semifinals - Sunday, March 7
Game 6 - Winner Game 2 vs Winner Game 3, 5:04 p.m. (TV TBA, Free Live Video at www.AmericaEast.tv)
Game 7 - Winner Game 4 vs Winner Game 5, 7:34 p.m. (TV TBA, Free Live Video at www.AmericaEast.tv)
Final - Saturday, March 13
Game 8 - Winner Game 6 vs Winner Game 7, 12:02 p.m. (ESPN 2)
^ Albany will be No. 8 seed with win at Hartford,
UMBC will be No. 8 seed with Albany loss at Hartford
% Albany will be No 9 seed with a loss at Hartford
UMBC will be No. 9 seed with an Albany win at Hartford
! Vermont will be No. 2 seed with win vs. Binghamton
Maine will be No. 2 seed with win at Boston U. AND a Vermont loss to Binghamton
# UNH will be No. 7 seed with loss vs. Stony Brook Sunday OR a Hartford win vs. Albany
Hartford will be No. 7 seed with loss vs. Albany AND a New Hampshire win vs. Stony Brook
* Maine will be No. 3 seed with loss at Boston U. Saturday OR a Vermont win vs. Binghamton
Vermont will be No. 3 seed with loss vs. Binghamton AND a Maine win at Boston U.
$ Hartford will be No. 6 seed with win vs. Albany
UNH will be No. 6 seed with win vs. Stony Brook AND a Hartford loss to Albany