BURLINGTON, Vt. -- Two teams with championship aspirations will face off on ESPN3 Thursday when Albany and Vermont meet at Patrick Gym. Tip time is a 7 p.m. with Eric Frede (play-by-play) and Frank Sullivan (analyst) on the call. WATCH LIVE
The matchup pits one of the league's top offensive teams against one of its best defensive squads. Albany (12-8, 4-2 AE) ranks second scoring 73.8 points per game while and Vermont (10-10, 4-2 AE) is second allowing just 62.6 per contest. The Catamounts have won the last four meetings with in the series.
Vermont, winner of four of their last five games, downed Maine 79-65 its last time out. Four McGlynn scored 16 points and is the lone freshman in the league to lead his team in scoring (13.5 ppg).
Albany, winner of five of its last seven, dropped a 70-57 decision at Boston U. its last time out Monday. Logan Aronhalt, the league's fourth-leading scorer (16.0 ppg), scored 20 points and is just three points shy of 1,000 for his career. Gerardo Suero ranks fourth nationally averaging 21.6 points per game.
The Great Danes
and Catamounts are not strangers to America East titles. The two teams
have won six of the last nine league crowns with Vermont winning four
(2003, 04, 05, 11) and Albany taking two (2006, 07).
America East is
in its first year of a five-year contract with ESPN that will feature
conference games exclusively on ESPN3, ESPN’s multi-screen network
available through an affiliated internet or video provider online via
WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and
through ESPN on Xbox LIVE. Fans can learn how to access games on all
available platforms at ESPN3's FAQ page.
Elsewhere tonight, Hartford (3-14, 3-2 AE), winner of back-to-back games and three of its last four, looks to continue its winning ways at Maine (8-8. 2-3 AE). The Hawks took all three meetings from the Black Bears last year, including a 66-63 win in the America East quarterfinals. The Black Bears, who have dropped three in a row, are hoping home court helps them get way to their winning ways. Maine is 5-1 in Orono this year.
Boston U. (8-11, 4-1 AE) can move into a tie for first place with Stony Brook with a win at UNH (6-10, 1-4 AE) tonight. The Terriers, who have won eight of nine over the Wildcats, are riding a four-game win streak and have a +12.3 margin of victory over that span while holding foes to just 57 points per game. New Hampshire has been a different team at home as five of its six wins have come at Lundholm Gym.
UMBC (2-15, 1-4 AE) and Binghamton (0-17, 0-5 AE) both look to stop losing skids. The Bearcats have won six of the last eight meetings in the series, including a win in the first round of the 2011 America East Championship.
Upcoming Action
Thursday, January 19
Albany at Vermont. (ESPN3), 7 p.m. -- Live Stats | Live Video | Vermont Audio | Albany Audio
Binghamton at UMBC, 7 p.m. -- Live Stats | Live Video | UMBC Audio | Binghamton Audio
Boston U. at New Hampshire, 7 p.m. -- Live Stats | Live Video | New Hampshire Audio | Boston U. Audio
Hartford at Maine, 7 p.m. -- Live Stats | Live Video | Hartford Audio | Maine Audio