BOSTON – Just over two weeks remain in the 2024-25 men’s #AEHoops season and one team has secured an all-important top four seed for the #AEPlayoffs. Bryant became the first squad to lock up a home quarterfinal game with two wins last week.
The Bulldogs sit atop the conference standings at 11-1 while Vermont and Maine are tied in second place at 8-3 and are in good position to secure to a top four spot. Just 1 ½ games separate teams 4-9 in the standings with UAlbany currently in fourth at 5-6.
The Week That Was
- Bryant won twice last week, beating NJIT and UMBC, to extend its win streak to three games.
- The Bulldogs secured a top-four seed in the #AEPlayoffs for the second-straight year.
- Earl Timberlake averaged 20.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the two games to earn America East Player of the Week honors.
- Vermont won twice last week posting wins over New Hampshire and Maine to move into a tie for second place in the league standings.
- The Catamounts, who have won four games in a row, earned a season sweep of Maine and will hold the head-to-head tiebreak over the Black Bears.
- Saturday’s four games were decided by a total of just 11 points.
- UNH’s Sami Pissis’ three-pointer with just two seconds remaining handed UNH a thrilling 80-79 win over UMass Lowell.
- UAlbany won its lone game of the week, scoring the final eight points of overtime to beat UMass Lowell on Thursday, 90-88. The Great Danes have won four of their last seven games to move into fourth place in the standings.
- Binghamton and UMBC also picked up wins last week.
The Week Ahead
- Bryant visits Vermont on Thursday for a key conference clash.
- The Bulldogs can secure a season sweep of the Catamounts with a win and earn at least a share of the conference’s regular-season title with a win and a Maine loss.
- Vermont and Maine can clinch top four seeds with one win next week.
- Bryant hosts NJIT and UMBC next week and can secure a top-four seed for the #AEPlayoffs with wins in both games.
- The Black Bears have a tough two-game road trip at UAlbany and Binghamton.
Need to Know
- Bryant’s 11 league wins matches last year’s total with four games remaining.
- Maine’s nine league wins are already its most since the 2010-11 season.
- Vermont’s four-game win streak is its longest of the season.
- UMass Lowell's Max Brooks leads the country in field goal percentage (.697) and is seventh in blocked shots per game (2.7 bpg).
- Binghamton’s Gavin Walsh’s 11.1 rebounds per game ranks fourth in the country.
- Maine’s Kellen Tynes ranks second nationally averaging 3.2 steals per game.
- NJIT’s Tariq Francis leads the league averaging 18.4 points per game.
Links
2024-25 Weekly Award Winners (Feb. 17)
Player of the Week
Earl Timberlake, Bryant – Sr., Guard, Washington, D.C.
- Averaged 20.5 points, 10.5 rebounds & 4.5 assists in a 2-0 week
- Shot 67 percent from the floor (16-of-24).
- Had 21 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in a win over NJIT on Thursday.
- Contributed 20 points, 11 boards and six assist in a win over UMBC on Saturday.,
- This is Timberlake’s third #AEHoops Player of the Week honor of the season.
Rookie of the Week
Khalil Badru, New Hampshire – Fr., Guard, New Britain, Conn.
- Averaged 12.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in a 1-1 week for UNH last week.
- Had 13 points, four assists and two steals in a win over UMass Lowell on Saturday.
- This is Badru’s third #AEHoops Rookie of the Week honor of the season including his second in a row.
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+, 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.
Weekly Award Winners
Nov. 11 – Player of the Week: Quinton Mincey, UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Martin Somerville, UMass Lowell
Nov. 18 - Player of the Week: Justin Neely, UAlbany; Rookie of the Week: Amir Lindsey, UAlbany
Nov. 25 – Player of the Week: Quinton Mincey, UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Martin Somerville, UMass Lowell
Dec. 2 – Player of the Week: Kellen Tynes, Maine; Rookie of the Week: Martin Somerville, UMass Lowell
Dec. 9 – Player of the Week: Chris Walker, Binghamton; Rookie of the Week: Martin Somerville, UMass Lowell
Dec. 16 – Player of the Week: Max Brooks, UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Martin Somerville, UMass Lowell
Dec. 23 – Player of the Week: Max Brooks, UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Martin Somerville, UMass Lowell
Dec. 31 – Player of the Week: Marcus Banks Jr, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: Martin Somerville, UMass Lowell
Jan. 6 – Player of the Week: Gavin Walsh, Binghamton; Rookie of the Week: Quentin Duncan, NJIT
Jan.13 – Player of the Week: Kellen Tynes, Maine; Rookie of the Week: Ari Fulton, NJIT
Jan.20 – Player of the Week: Earl Timberlake, Bryant; Rookie of the Week: Khalil Badru, New Hampshire
Jan. 27 – Player of the Week: Quion Burns, Maine; Rookie of the Week: Martin Somerville, UMass Lowell
Feb. 3 – Player of the Week: Gavin Walsh, Binghamton; Rookie of the Week: Martin Somerville, UMass Lowell
Feb. 10 – Player of the Week: A.J. Lopez, Maine; Rookie of the Week: Khalil Badru, New Hampshire
Feb. 17 – Player of the Week: Earl Timberlake, Bryant; Rookie of the Week: Khalil Badru, New Hampshire
Follow the @AEHoopsNews on X (Formerly Twitter) account to stay up-to-date on #AEHoops news all season long.
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