Stony Brook, Vermont Advance to #AEPlayoffs Title Game

Stony Brook, Vermont Advance to #AEPlayoffs Title Game

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America East Communications

For the second straight year, the No. 1 and No. 3 seeds will meet for the America East men’s basketball title as top-seeded Stony Brook and third-seeded Vermont each won semifinal contests on their home floors Monday to advance to the conference’s championship game.

The Seawolves got double-doubles from first-team All-Conference standouts Carson Puriefoy and Jameel Warney to beat seventh-seeded Hartford, 80-64, in one semifinal. In the other, third-seeded Vermont held fourth-seeded New Hampshire to just 36 percent shooting en route to a 63-56 win. It’s the Seawolves’ fifth title game appearance in the last six years and the Catamounts’ ninth since 2003.

The Seawolves and Catamounts, who met for the 2012 title, will decide the 2016 champion on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Stony Brook’s IFCU Arena. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.

Stony Brook 80, Hartford 64 - Box Score | Highlights

  • Top-seeded Stony Brook (25-6) used a 24-9 run bridging the first and second halves to beat seventh-seeded Hartford (8-23) and advance to its fifth America East title game.
  • The Hawks cut the lead to eight on two occasions in the second half, but Warney and Puriefoy scored all 10 points during a 10-0 run to grow the lead to 71-53 with 4:36 left in regulation.
  • Stony Brook outrebounded Hartford, 46-27, and had 13 second-chance points.
  • Warney finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds while Puriefoy had 22 points and 10 rebounds.
  • Jalen Ross led Hartford with 21 points and second-team All-Conference standout Pancake Thomas added 18.
  • The win was the Seawolves’ 25th of the season matching their Division I program record.

Vermont 63, New Hampshire 56 - Box Score | Highlights

  • Second-seeded Vermont (21-12) used a 17-2 first-half run to take control and defeat New Hampshire (19-12) in the quarterfinals Wednesday and advance to the title game.
  • The Catamounts, who will be appearing in their 10th championship and first since 2013, led by as many as 19 in the second half.
  • UNH made a run, cutting the deficit to seven, the final margin, but could get no closer.
  • Vermont held UNH to just 35.5 percent shooting, including 24.2 percent in the first half.
  • Third-team All-Conference standout Ethan O’Day paced Vermont with 19 points and seven rebounds.
  • Tanner Leissner, a first-team all-leaguer, had a game-high 28 points and 10 rebounds. 
  • The win was the Catamounts' seventh in a row.