Top Seeds Vermont, UMBC To Play for 2018 Men’s #AEHoops Title after Posting Semifinal Wins
For the first time since 2012, the top two seeds will decide the America East men’s basketball title as #1 Vermont and #2 UMBC won semifinal contests Tuesday to advance to the conference’s championship game.
Both teams rode strong second halves to victory with Vermont downing #5 Stony Brook, 70-51, to advance to its 11th championship game since 2003, while UMBC reached its first title game since 2009 with a 75-60 victory over #3 Hartford.
The Catamounts and Retrievers, who will meet for the league title for the first time, will decide the 2018 champion on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Vermont’s Patrick Gym. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
#1 Vermont 70, #5 Stony Brook 51
- Vermont (27-6) outscored Stony Brook by 15 over the game’s final 19 minutes to down the Seawolves in the #AEPlayoffs semifinals, 70-51.
- The reigning champion Catamounts will play in their 12th title game in program history and 11th since 2003.
- After having their nine-point halftime lead cut to six, the Catamounts used an 11-2 run to take a 41-28 advantage and never looked back.
- Vermont held Stony Brook to just 51 points, its second-lowest output of the season, and 33 percent shooting.
- Drew Urquhart, a second-team All-Conference selection, scored 18 of his game-high 19 points in the second half to lead the Catamounts.
- America East Sixth Man of the Year Cam Ward added 12 points off the bench.
- Akwasi Yeboah, a second-team All-Conference selection, led Stony Brook (13-19) with 15 points.
#2 UMBC 75, #3 Hartford 60
- UMBC (23-10) used a 26-10 run bridging the first and second halves to build an insurmountable lead and down Hartford, 75-60, in the #AEPlayoffs quarterfinals.
- The Retrievers advanced to the title game for the first time since 2009 and the third time in program history.
- The game featured three ties and six lead changes, all in the first half.
- UMBC held a plus-9 edge on the glass.
- Third-team All-Conference standout K.J. Maura led UMBC with 18 points and added five assists.
- Second-team all-leaguer John Carroll and third teamer Jason Dunne had 15 points apiece to pace Hartford (19-13).
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.
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