For the second-straight year but just the second time since 1999, the top four seeds advanced to the America East semifinals as each won #AEPlayoffs quarterfinal games on Wednesday. The top seeds, No. 1 Albany and No. 2 UMBC posted convincing wins over #8 Maine and #7 UMBC, respectively, with the Great Danes beating the Black Bears, 83-66, and the Catamounts dowinging the Retrievers, 66-39. The other two games were much closer with No. 3 Stony Brook getting by No. 6 Binghamton, 60-55, and No. 4 New Hampshire needing overtime to oust No. 5 Hartford, 67-63.
The four quarterfinal games drew 10,028 fans, the highest number of attendees during the quarterfinals in conference history.
The top four teams in the league standings, which have combined for 81 wins on the year, will meet in the semifinals Sunday with Vermont hosting Stony Brook at 1 p.m. and Albany taking on New Hampshire at 2 p.m.
#1 Albany 83, #8 Maine 66 - Box Score | Albany Story | Maine Story
- The Great Danes jumped out to a 9-0 lead on the Black Bears and never looked back in advancing to the semifinals for the fourth-straight year.
- Albany (22-8) shot 50 percent from the field (27-of-54) and had a 40-19 edge on the glass.
- The Great Danes improved to 15-9 all-time in championship play and extended their tournament win streak to seven games. which is the fifth-longest streak in league history.
- With the win, Will Brown moved into sole possession of third place on the league's all-time championship wins list with 15.
- Evan Singletary led five Great Danes in double figures with 19 points.
- Aaron Calixte's 16 points paced Maine, which finishes its season 3-27.
#2 Vermont 66, UMBC 39 -
Box Score | Highlights |Vermont Story | UMBC Story
- The Catamounts held the Retrievers to 16 first half points and 39 points, the fourth fewest points allowed in an America East tournament game.
- Vermont (18-11) will play in the semifinals for the 13th time in the last 14 years.
- Vermont converted 19 UMBC turnovers into 21 points.
- The Catamounts are now 32-27 all-time in tournament play and 15-2 as the No. 2 seed.
- Hector Harold led a balanced UVM attack with 14 points while Will Darley led UMBC (4-26) with 14.
#3 Stony Brook 62, #6 Binghamton 57 - Box Score | Highlights | Stony Brook Story | Binghamton Story
- Stony Brook (22-10) used a 14-0 early second-half run and held off Binghamton to advance to the semifinals.
- The win was the Seawolves' seventh in a row.
- The Seawolves have advanced to the semis each of the last six seasons and improved to 13-13 all-time in the tournament.
- Carson Puriefoy and Rayshaun McGrew each scored 14 points to lead the Seawolves while Willie Rodriguez had a game-high 19 for Binghamton (6-26).
#3 New Hampshire 67, #5 Hartford 63 (OT) - Box Score | Highlights | UNH Story | Hartford Story
- UNH outscored Hartford 13-9 in overtime to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2009.
- Hartford forced the extra session on two Mark Nwakamma free throws with 0.3 seconds left.
- The win was UNH's 19th on the year after it won just six games last season.
- Bill Herrion added to his record for America East championship wins with his 22nd.
- Jaleen Smith led UNH with 16 points and nine rebouds.
- Mark Nwakamma paced Hartford with 20 points.