Vermont and New Hampshire each won postseason men's basketball games Wednesday night. The Catamounts knocked off Western Carolina, 79-74, in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational while the Wildcats beat Fairfield, 77-62, in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
America East teams have now won at least one postseason game in seven of the last eight years and totaled 10 victories since 2009. The Catamounts' win was their fifth postseason victory since 2009 while the Wildcats' was their first in program history.
Vermont (22-13) used an 18-4 first-half run to grow a 15-point lead and never gave it up in the win over Western Carolina. Kurt Steidl recorded a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead the way.
New Hampshire (20-12) shot 10-of-22 from three-point land en route to win its first postseason game in program history. The win was their 20th of the season, setting a new program record. Jaleen Smith scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half to lead the way.
Also Wednesday, Albany fell at Ohio, 94-90 in overtime, in the first round of the CBI. Evan Singletary led the way for the Great Danes with 19 points.
Vermont will next play at Seattle Monday at 10 p.m. ET in the second round of the CBI while New Hampshire will visit Coastal Carolina Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the second round of the CIT.