Binghamton Posts Upset; Vermont, UMBC, Hartford Hold Serve in Men's #AEPlayoffs Quarterfinals
Throw away the chalk, the 2019 men’s #AEPlayoffs bracket is busted after Binghamton became just the third #7 seed to knock off the #2 seed in the quarterfinals on Saturday. The Bearcats are joined in the semifinal quartet by #1 Vermont, #3 UMBC and #4 Hartford after those three teams also posted quarterfinal wins to return to the semis for a second-straight year.
After re-seeding the bracket, the top-seeded Catamounts will meet the seventh-seeded Bearcats in one semifinal while the third-seeded Retrievers will host the fourth-seeded Hawks in the other semifinal. Both games take place Tuesday at 7 p.m. and air on ESPN+.
Read more about the quarterfinals below. For full playoff coverage, including box scores, highlights and more, visit #AEPlayoffs Central.
#AEPlayoffs Quarterfinals Recaps
at #1 Vermont 73, #8 Maine 57
- #1 Vermont (25-6) got a 34-point effort from #AEHoops Player of the Year Anthony Lamb to cruise to a 73-57 win over #8 Maine.
- The Catamounts advanced to the semifinals for the 17th time in the last 18 seasons.
- Vermont shot 52 percent for the game, including 55 percent in the first half, and led by 19 at halftime.
- Lamb shot 12-of-23 from the floor and added six rebounds. Fellow first-team All-Conference choice Ernie Duncan added 12 points.
- Isaiah White’s 18 points paced Maine (5-27).
#7 Binghamton 78, at #2 Stony Brook, 72
- #7 Binghamton (10-22) held #2 Stony Brook to only 39 percent shooting en route to a 78-72 win.
- The Bearcats are in the semifinals for the first time since 2009 and it’s their first playoff win since 2012.
- Binghamton joins Hartford (2016) and UAlbany (2009) as #7 seeds that knocked off a #2 seed.
- Binghamton built a 24-point second-half lead before Stony Brook cut it to three in the final minute before the Bearcats pulled away for the six-point win.
- America East Rookie of the Year Sam Sessoms led Binghamton with 26 points, nine rebounds and four assists. J.C. Show added 19.
- Elijah Olaniyi, a third-team All-Conference choice, had a game-high 27 points for Stony Brook (24-8).
at #3 UMBC 62, #6 UAlbany 54
- #3 UMBC (20-12) scored 15 of the second half’s first 21 points and led by as many as 18 in the frame to down #6 UAlbany, 62-54.
- With the win, the reigning league champion Retrievers advance to the semifinals for a second-straight season for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign.
- The victory gives UMBC 20 win for the third-straight season, a first in its Division I program history.
- Arkel Lamar and second-team All-Conference selection K.J. Jackson each scored 11 points to lead a balanced Retriever attack.
- Freshman Malachi De Sousa had a game-high 15 points for UAlbany (12-20).
at #5 Hartford 78, #4 UMass Lowell 70
- John Carroll’s three-pointer with 40.8 seconds left broke a 67-all tie and lifted #4 Hartford (18-14) to a 78-70 win over #5 UMass Lowell.
- Hartford is in the semifinals in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2012.
- The Hawks outscored the River Hawks, 47-33, in the second half behind 58 percent shooting.
- Carroll finished with a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds while J.R. Lynch led Hartford with 21 points.
- Obadiah Noel paced UMass Lowell (15-17), which was seeking its first #AEPlayoffs win, with 21 points.
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.
- #3Pillars – Building the Complete Student-Athlete -