BOSTON – Vermont is at the top of standings once again, but a lot can still happen below them as just five game dates remain, and every team is in serious playoff contention.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22
UMBC at Maine – 6 PM
Binghamton at UMass Lowell – 6:30 PM
NJIT at New Hampshire – 7 PM
Vermont at UAlbany – 7 PM
The Catamounts hit the road as they look to continue their win streak and secure a top-three seed in the America East tournament before battling with Bryant on Saturday. They face a UAlbany squad which has lost 4 of 5 entering today, including an 80-75 defeat at the hands of UMBC. The Great Danes boast the best scoring offense in league play at 79.5 points but are last in scoring defense (82.3). Vermont, meanwhile, is giving up just 60.1 ppg in league action while scoring 71.1. The Catamounts won the first meeting between the teams, 81-59.
UMass Lowell looks to earn a top-four seed for the second straight year and can take a big step to doing that with a victory at home against Binghamton. The River Hawks are just 2-3 over their last five games, including a pair of home losses. In conference play this year they are just 1-3 when they fail to reach 75 points. Binghamton, meanwhile, has struggled on defense, posting a 2-8 record when they allow over 60 points to opponents. The River Hawks took the first meeting between the teams by an 80-60 margin.
New Hampshire is 6-5 and in the No. 4 spot in the standings as the Wildcats host NJIT. They look make a push for a top-four seed once again and are led by Clarence Daniels, who is averaging 20.3 ppg and 9.6 rpg in league play. The Highlanders seek their second road win of the season and are currently tied for ninth in the standings. UNH earned a 70-62 win earlier this season.
UMBC has won three of five and boasts the league’s top scorer in conference play and heads north to Maine for battle. The Black Bears are a half game behind the Retrievers in the standings and rank second in the league in scoring defense (68.6), but have to contain Dion Brown who is averaging 21.9 ppg and 9.3 rpg in #AEHoops action.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24
UAlbany at UMass Lowell – 1 PM
UMBC at New Hampshire – 1 PM
NJIT at Maine – 2 PM
Bryant at Vermont – 7 PM
ABOUT AMERICA EAST
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference its social media channels, @AmericaEast.
- America East Conference – Where Champions Rise -