BOSTON – With just over three weeks left in the regular season, the men’s #AEHoops playoff picture is starting to take shape. Three teams locked up top four seeds for Air Force Reserve #AEPlayoffs over the weekend with UMBC, Vermont and NJIT securing home quarterfinal games.
UMBC posted wins over Vermont and UAlbany to improve to 11-2 and take a two-game lead in the standings with three to play. Vermont and NJIT sit tied for second place at 11-4 while UMass Lowell, winner of four in a row, is a game back in fourth place at 8-5.
Need to Know:
- UMBC’s six-game win streak is its longest since the 2022-23 season.
- The Retrievers beat Vermont, 75-62, on Thursday and UAlbany, 66-62, on Saturday.
- Vermont secured a top-four seed for the 20th-straight season with its 70-64 win over NJIT on Saturday.
- Despite losing both of its games last week, NJIT secured a top four seed for the first time since joining the league in 2020. The Highlanders’ 10 #AEHoops wins are its most ever.
- UMass Lowell beat UNH and Binghamton last week to extend its win streak to four games. The River Hawks are averaging 86.8 points and have an average margin of victory of 15 during the streak.
Looking Ahead:
- UMBC hosts Bryant on Thursday and can clinch at least a share of the regular-season title with a win. The Retrievers can earn the No. 1 seed for the #AEPlayoffs for the first time since 2021 with wins over the Bulldogs and UMass Lowell on Saturday.
- Vermont hosts UMass Lowell on Thursday in a battle of hot teams. The Catamounts has won four its last five while the River Hawks are riding a four-game win streak.
- UMass Lowell can clinch the last top-four seed spot with a win over Vermont Thursday.
Player of the Week
Angel Montas Jr., UMass Lowell – Jr., Guard, La Romana, D.R.
- Averaged 27.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in a 2-0 week for UMass Lowell.
- Shot 70 percent the field (23-for-33).
- Had a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds in a win over UNH on Thursday.
- Matched a career high with 30 points on 12-of-15 shooting in a victory over Binghamton on Saturday.
- This is Montas’ third #AEHoops Player of the Week honor of the season.
Rookie of the Week
Ty Tabales, Bryant – Fr., Guard, Worcester, Mass.
- Scored 21 points in Bryant’s lone game of the week vs. Binghamton.
- Shot 56 percent from three-point range (5-of-9).
- Added three rebounds, three steals and two assists.
- This is Tabales’ fourth 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 Hurley, 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
Jan. 20 – Player of the Week: Amir Lindsey, UAlbany; Rookie of the Week: Tyler Bike, New Hampshire
Jan. 26 – Player of the Week: TJ Hurley, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: Ace Flagg, Maine
Feb. 2 – Player of the Week: Sebastian Robinson, NJIT; Rookie of the Week: David Bolden, NJIT
Feb. 9 – Player of the Week: Ari Fulton, NJIT; Rookie of the Week: Victor Okojie, UMass Lowell
Feb. 16 – Player of the Week: Gus Yalden, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: David Bolden, NJIT
Feb. 23 – Player of the Week: Angel Montas, Jr., UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Ty Tabales, Bryant
Follow the @AEHoopsNews on X (Formerly Twitter) account to stay up-to-date on #AEHoops news all season long.
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