Men's Basketball

Men's #AEHoops Preview: Jan. 22-24

BOSTON – Just a half game separates the top five teams in the league, all of whom have just a single conference loss as conference play is nearly 1/3 of the way complete. A few teams could distance themselves this weekend.
 
NJIT (4-1) at UMBC (3-1) – 6 PM
  • The Highlanders earned a part of hard-fought victories last week to take over first place in the league, as they beat UMass Lowell 73-64 and then Bryant by a 79-55 margin. UMBC fell to Bryant in OT last Thursday, but rebounded with a 78-60 win over Binghamton on Monday.
  • UMBC has won the last three matchups with NJIT and 4 of 5. The last matchup between the two teams was a 95-91 victory by the Retrievers.
  • The Highlanders are 2nd in the league in scoring margin (8.2) in #AEHoops action with the top offense in the conference (75.0) and the 4th ranked scoring defense (66.8). UMBC is 6th in scoring defense (68.8) and 3rd in scoring offense (74.0)
 
Vermont (3-1) at UMass Lowell (3-1) – 6 PM
  • The Catamounts lost their first conference game on Monday, 75-68, at UAlbany after edging Maine 67-62 at home last Thursday. The River Hawks lost its lone game last week, falling 73-64 at home against NJIT.
  • Vermont has won seven straight against UMass Lowell and 10 of 11. Four of the last five matchups were decided by seven points or less.
  • The River Hawks are 2nd in scoring offense (74.3) in league play and fifth in scoring defense (68.8). Vermont is 2nd in scoring defense (64.3) and  6th in scoring offense (68.8), but ranks 5th in scoring margin (4.5)
 
Binghamton (0-5) at New Hampshire (1-3) – 6 PM
  • Binghamton came up short twice last week, losing 69-53 to UAlbany and then 78-60 to UMBC on Monday. New Hampshire earned its first conference win on Monday, 65-48 at Maine in its lone game of the week.
  • New Hampshire is 3-5 against Binghamton over its last eight matchups, those the Wildcats won the most recent matchup 79-60 at Binghamton.
  • The Wildcats are last in conference play scoring defense (70.8), but do rank 5th in scoring (69.0). Binghamton, meanwhile, is 7th in scoring (61.0) and 8th in scoring defense (70.6).
 
UAlbany (3-1) at Maine (1-4) -  6 PM
  • The Great Danes have won three straight league games, including a 16-point victory over Binghamton and then a 75-68 win against Vermont on national television Monday. The Black Bears dropped two contests last week, falling by five to Vermont and 17 to New Hampshire.
  • UAlbany won the most recent matchup between the two teams, but had dropped the previous five contests. Four of the last seven matchups have been decided by four points or less.
  • UAlbany ranks 4th in conference play in scoring (71.5), while leading the league in scoring defense (62.5) and scoring margin (9.0). Maine is 3rd in scoring defense (65.4) but last in scoring offense (59.4).
 
Saturday, Jan. 24
  • UMass Lowell at UMBC – 1 PM
  • Vermont at Bryant – 2 PM
  • Binghamton at Maine – 2 PM
  • UAlbany at New Hampshire – 2 PM
 
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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 and its social media channels, @AmericaEast.
 
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