After a thrilling regular season, the 2016 #AEPlayoffs are here. Action begins Wednesday night with four quarterfinal games at each of the top four seeds. All four games will air on ESPN3.
2016 #AEPlayoffs Quarterfinals
#8 UMBC at #1 Stony Brook, 7 p.m. - Watch
#7 Hartford at #2 Albany, 7 p.m. - Watch
#6 Maine at #3 Vermont, 7:30 p.m. - Watch
#5 Binghamton at #4 New Hampshire, 7:30 p.m. - Watch
Visit Playoff Central for all live coverage links, including live stats and live video. Ticket information for each site can also be found there. Capacity crowds are expected at all four venues.
The four winners will advance to Monday's semifinals. The field will be re-seeded with the highest-remaining seed hosting the lowest-remaining seed at 7 p.m. and the second-highest remaining seed hosting the second-lowest remaining seed at 7:30 p.m.
Men's Basketball Quarterfinals
#8 UMBC at #1 Stony Brook - 7 p.m.
- Stony Brook is the top seed and regular-season champion for the fourth time in the last seven years.
- The Seawolves have reached the championship game four of the last five years.
- UMBC will try to join the 1988 UNH and 2004 Stony Brook teams as the only No. 8 seeds to upset the top seed.
- The two teams have split their two previous tournament meetings with UMBC winning the last matchup in the 2008 quarterfinals en route to winning the conference title.
- The matchup features three-time America East Player of the Year Jameel Warney from Stony Brook and second-team All-Conference standout Jairus Lyles from UMBC, who led the league in scoring during conference play.
#7 Hartford at #2 Albany - 7 p.m.
- Albany won a program Division I record 24 games in the regular season.
- The three-time reigning champions have won nine-straight tournament games and are trying to become just the second program to capture four consecutive league titles (Northeastern, 1984-87).
- Hartford is searching four its fourth semifinal appearance in the last six years.
- The Hawks beat the Great Danes in the 2002 quarterfinals, the only other time the two teams have met in the championship.
- The Great Danes sport a trio of All-Conference standouts in first teamers Ray Sanders and Evan Singletary and third teamer Peter Hooley while Hartford's Pancake Thomas earned second-team honors after ranking in the top 10 in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.
#6 Maine at #3 Vermont - 7:30 p.m.
- Vermont won 11 conference games for the eighth-straight year and is riding a conference-best five-game win streak.
- The Catamounts have won their quarterfinal round game in 13 of the last 14 years.
- Maine has its highest win total and best seed since the 2012-13 season.
- The two teams have split six previous tournament get togethers with Vermont winning the last contest in the 2012 quarterfinals.
- UVM is the only America East team with six players averaging at least 8.5 points per game while Maine features All-Rookie selection, Issac Vann.
#5 Binghamton at #4 New Hampshire - 7:30 p.m.
- New Hampshire matched its program record with 11 conference wins.
- The Wildcats' 37 wins over the last two seasons are their most in a two-year span in program history.
- Binghamton has its most wins since the 2009-10 season and best seed since 2009 when it won its only league title.
- The Wildcats and Bearcats have met just once in the tournament previously with Binghamton beating UNH in the 2009 semifinals en route to the league title.
- Tanner Leissner is UNH's first first-team All-Conference standout in 11 seasons while Binghamton's Willie Rodriguez ranks in the top seven in both scoring and rebounding and earned third-team accolades.