BOSTON – Nearly three-quarters of the #AEHoops season is complete and the standings are tightening up as the battle for a top four seed heats up. Vermont grew its lead atop the standings to two games and became the first team to secure a top four seed and home quarterfinal game for the #AEPlayoffs.
The Catamounts sit at 11-1, two games ahead of Bryant (9-3) and two and half up on UMass Lowell (8-3) New Hampshire is in fourth at 6-5 as the season enters the home stretch.
Need to Know
- Vermont posted wins over Binghamton and Maine last week to secure its 15th-straight full season of 20 wins. They are one of only three programs in the country to make that claim joining Gonzaga and Kansas.
- The win on Thursday was John Becker’s 300th as the head coach of the Catamounts.
- With clinching a top four #AEPlayoffs seed, Vermont has not been seeded lower than fourth since 2006.
- UMass Lowell beat Bryant 86-77 behind 27 points from Yuri Covington.
- UMBC won back-to-back games to vault into a tie for sixth place in the standings. The Retrievers beat Binghamton 89-78 on Thursday and UAlbany 80-75 on Saturday.
- The Retrievers’ Dion Brown leads the league in scoring during conference play averaging 21.5 points per contest.
- In addition to Vermont’s and UMBC’s two wins apiece, UAlbany Binghamton, Bryant, UMass Lowell each won once last week.
- This week’s slate is highlighted by first-place Vermont hosting second-place Bryant on Saturday at 7 p.m.
America East Links
Fans will once again be able to watch every #AEHoops game this season regardless of where they live! The majority games will air on The AE on ESPN, either ESPN+ or ESPN3, in the United States. Games will also be available internationally on AmericaEast.TV. Those games will be available on computers, OTT devices and the brand new America East app, which is available on all IOS and Android devices and can be found by searching ‘America East Conference’ in app stores.
The men’s #AEHoops preseason poll was announced on Oct. 18.
2023-24 Weekly Award Winners (Feb. 19)
Player of the Week
Yuri Covington, UMass Lowell – Sr., Guard, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
- Scored a game-high 27 points in UMass Lowell’s lone game of the week, a key win at Bryant.
- Shot 60 percent from the floor (9-for-15) make 4-of-5 attempts from three-point land.
- Added three rebounds, three assists and three steals.
- This is Covington’s first career #AEHoops Player of the Week honor.
Player & Rookie of the Week
Franck Emmou, UMBC – Fr., Guard, Marshfield, Texas
- Helped UMBC earn two important victories by averaging 9.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists last week.
- Scored 16 points and added six boards in a win over Binghamton on Thursday.
- Added six points, three rebounds and three assists in a victory over UAlbany on Saturday.
- This is Emmou’s second #AEHoops Rookie of the Week honor this year.
Weekly Award Winners
Nov. 13 – Player of the Week: Dion Brown, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: Evan Ashe, Binghamton
Nov. 20 – Player of the Week: Sherif Gross-Bullock, Bryant; Rookie of the Week: Sebastian Robinson, NJIT
Nov. 27 – Player of the Week: Amar'e Marshall, UAlbany; Rookie of the Week: Sebastian Robinson, NJIT
Dec. 4 – Player of the Week: Ahmad Robinson, New Hampshire; Rookie of the Week: Sebastian Robinson, NJIT
Dec. 11 - Player of the Week: Tymu Chenery, Binghamton; Rookie of the Week: Ace Valentine, UMBC
Dec. 18 – Player of the Week: Earl Timberlake, Bryant; Rookie of the Week: Tariq Francis, NJIT
Dec. 26 – Player of the Week: Earl Timberlake, Bryant; Rookie of the Week: Tariq Francis, NJIT
Jan. 2 – Player of the Week: Jonathan Beagle, UAlbany; Rookie of the Week: Gavin Walsh, Binghamton
Jan. 8 – Player of the Week: Sherif Gross-Bullock, Bryant; Rookie of the Week: Tariq Francis, NJIT
Jan. 15 – Player of the Week: Sebastian Thomas, UAlbany; Rookie of the Week: Tariq Francis, NJIT
Jan. 22 – Player of the Week: Earl Timberlake, Bryant; Rookie of the Week: Tariq Francis, NJIT
Jan. 29 – Player of the Week: Ileri Ayo-Faleye, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: Tariq Francis, NJIT
Feb. 5: Co-Players of the Week: Dion Brown, UMBC & Clarence Daniels, New Hampshire; Rookie of the Week: Franck Emmou, UMBC
Feb. 12 – Player & Rookie of the Week: Tariq Francis, NJIT
Feb. 19 – Player of the Week: Yuri Covington, UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Franck Emmou, UMBC
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