BURLINGTON, Vt. -- The 2010 America East Men's Basketball Championship is on the line Saturday when No. 2 Vermont plays host to No. 4 Boston University at 12 noon in a game which can been seen on ESPN2. It marks the 23nd-straight year that the conference championship game will be televised nationally. A capacity crowd of 3,266 is expected at Patrick Gym, which is hosting its four title game since 2004.
The Catamounts, who are appearing in their sixth championship tilt in eight years, have won 10 of their last 11 games heading into Saturday's contest. The Catamounts held their first two conference tournament opponents to an average of 48.5 points and 32 percent shooting in wins over UMBC and New Hampshire last weekend. UVM is led by two-time America East Player of the Year Marqus Blakley, who earned first-team all-conference status for the third straight year in 2009-10 and also took home is third consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award. The senior forward ranks second in scoring (17.2 ppg), second in rebounding (9.1 rpg), fourth in assists (3.7 apg) and leads the conference in steals (2.5 spg) and blocks (1.9 bpg). Third-team all-league choices Maurice Joseph (14.1 ppg) and Evan Fjeld (10.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg) will also play key role for the Catamounts.
The Terriers, who have won five America East crowns, are searching for their first title since 2002. Winners of six straight, Boston U., the league's top offensive team averaging 70.8 points per game have done it with defense of late. After allowing an average of 68.8 points through their first 15 games, the Terriers are surrendering just 56.8 points per contest during the win streak. Boston U. posted the second largest margin of victory ever in an America East Championship contest with an 87-46 romp over Hartford in the quarterfinals, then knocked off top-seeded Stony Brook, 70-63, to reach its first title game since 2003. The league's leading scorer, junior John Holland (19.1 ppg), leads a trio of all-league performers. He is joined by senior guard Corey Lowe (15.0 ppg) and sophomore forward Jake O'Brien (13.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg). Lowe is averaging 25 points over his first two tournament contests.
Bob Wischusen (play-by-play) and former Providence head coach Tim Welsh (color) will call the action for ESPN2.
The winner of the America East Championship game receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. As a result of Stony Brook's automatic NIT bid, the league is guaranteed to send multiple teams to the postseason for the sixth time in eight years.