BOSTON – For the first time in eight seasons, a full slate of America East men’s basketball action will take place on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as eight programs will take the court and celebrate his legacy. The schedule is highlighted by UAlbany hosting Vermont on ESPNU at 1 p.m.
To celebrate MLK Day, players and coaches will wear specially designed “End Racism” shooting shirts that amplify his message. The End Racism shirts include words from Martin Luther King Jr., and his "Loving Your Enemies" sermon delivered in Montgomery, Alabama on Christmas Day in 1957. This quote became a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement, emphasizing that positive change comes from love, not from mirroring the hate of oppressors. The quote was later published in King's book, "Strength of Love," in 1963.
In addition to Vermont visiting UAlbany, NJIT hosts Bryant, Binghamton welcomes UMBC and UNH visits Maine. Those three contests tip at 2 p.m.
The MLK Day games will lead into America East’s Spread Respect-End Racism games in February, which each America East men’s and women’s program will host a game. Both the MLK Day contests and Spread Respect games highlight the conference’s collective commitment to help end racial inequality and promote social justice in America East communities and beyond.
"Playing on MLK Day is important to our men’s coaches,” said America East Commissioner, Brad Walker. “It will help raise awareness for issues that are deeply important to our student-athletes and coaches and generate discussion about them to forefront on our campuses and in our communities,"
For nearly a decade, the America East has been a leader within college athletics in raising awareness and providing education in the areas of diversity and inclusion through its Spread Respect initiative.
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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.
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