BOSTON – Conference continued with a pair of contests this week with UMass Lowell and UMBC both going 2-0, while Vermont won its lone contest to also stay unbeaten.
Every game matters as the top four teams in the standings at the end of the regular season earn home court advantage the Air Force Reserve #AEPlayoffs. The league will also make an appeared on national TV next Monday as UAlbany hosts Vermont on ESPNU as part of its Martin Luther King Day coverage.
Need to Know
- UMass Lowell continues to be the most impressive team in league play, as the River Hawks dominated Byrant 77-63 and then held off Binghamton 73-68 for the 3-0 league mark.
- UMBC outlasted Maine 69-62 on Thursday and then got two free throws from DJ Armstrong Jr. with less than a second remaining to escape with a 75-74 victory over New Hampshire.
- Vermont got a last-second block from TJ Hurley and come clutch baskets from Momo Nkugwa to edge Binghamton 60-59 in its lone game of the week.
- UAlbany earned its first league win with an impressive 71-46 victory over Bryant, while Maine secured its first conference win on Saturday, 74-70 against NJIT.
- The Highlanders did beat New Hampshire on Thursday, 80-76, and is 2-1 in league play, thanks to David Bolden’s 21 points.
Looking Ahead:
- The America East will play four games on Martin Luther King Day, highlighted by Vermont playing at UAlbany on ESPNU at 1 p.m.
- On MLK Day, NJIT will also host Bryant at 2 p.m., while Maine welcomes New Hampshire for a 2 p.m. matchup. UMBC faces Binghamton on the road at 6:07 p.m.
- Thursday’s biggest game is 3-0 UMass Lowell hosting 2-1 NJIT, while 2-0 Vermont looks to stay perfect against Maine.
Player of the Week
Angel Montas, Jr., UMass Lowell – Jr., Guard, La Romana, D.R.
- Averaged 22.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in a 2-0 week.
- Had 27 points and six rebounds in a win over Bryant on Thursday.
- Contributed 17 points and four rebounds in a victory over Binghamton on Saturday.
- Montas Jr.’s second career #AEHoops Player of the Week honor.
Rookie of the Week
Timofei Rudovskii, Bryant – Fr., Wing, Moscow, Russia
- Averaged 17.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in two games.
- Chipped in 15 points, including three triples, and five rebounds against UMass Lowell on Thursday.
- Went 7-for-16 and finished with a career high 20 points in a loss to UAlbany.
- This is Rudovskii’s second career #AEHoops Rookie of the Week honor.
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Weekly Award Winners
Nov. 10 – Player of the Week: TJ Long, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: David Bolden, NJIT
Nov. 17 – Co-Players of the Week: DJ Armstrong, UMBC & Ari Fulton, NJIT; Rookie of the Week: David Bolden, NJIT
Nov. 24 – Player of the Week: TJ Long, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: JJ Massaquoi, UMass Lowell
Dec. 1 – Player of the Week: Gus Yalden, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: Ty Tabales, Bryant
Dec. 8 – Player of the Week: Jah’Likai King, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: Ty Tabales, Bryant
Dec. 15 – Player of the Week: Jaden Kempson, UAlbany; Rookie of the Week: Timofei Rudovskii, Bryant
Dec. 22 – Player of the Week: Gus Yalden, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: Jake Blackburn, Binghamton
Dec. 29 – Player of the Week: Jeremiah Quigley, Binghamton; Rookie of the Week: Ty Tabales, Bryant
Jan. 5 – Player of the Week: Angel Montas, Jr., UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Ashley Sims II, Bryant
Jan. 12 – Player of the Week: Angel Montas, Jr., UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Timofei Rudovskii, Bryant
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