BOSTON – The Air Force Reserve America East Men’s Basketball Playoffs begins in less than a week as just one regular-season game remains. UMBC locked up the regular-season title on Saturday while Vermont, NJIT and UMass Lowell will serve as the other three quarterfinal hosts.
Need to Know:
- UMBC posted wins over Bryant and UMass Lowell to secure its first America East regular-season title since 2021. It’s the Retrievers’ third in program history and first outright title since 2008.
- UMBC’s eight-game win streak is its longest since the 2007-08 season.
- The Retrievers, who are 13-2 in league play, won just five conference games last year. The eight-win improvement is the third-best single-season turnaround in league history.
- Vermont beat UMass Lowell, 65-63, in its lone game of the week on Thursday. The Catamounts secured a top-four seed for the 20th-straight season.
- Despite losing both of its games last week, UMass Lowell secured a top-four seed for the third time in the last four years.
- Binghamton went 2-0 last week, posting a 65-63 win over UNH on Thursday and a 74-67 victory over Maine on Saturday. Jeremiah Quigley averaged 20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in the two wins to earn America East Player of the Week honors.
- Six of the league’s nine teams earned wins last week with UAlbany (UNH), Bryant (NJIT) and Maine (UAlbany) also earning wins.
Looking Ahead:
- The final regular-season games take place on Tuesday with UAlbany visiting Vermont, Maine hosting UMass Lowell, UMBC heading to Bryant and UNH entertaining Bryant.
- Vermont can secure the No. 2 seed with a win over an NJIT loss. NJIT with be No. 2 with a win and a Catamount loss.
- The Air Force Reserve #AEPlayoffs kick off Saturday with quarterfinal action.
Player of the Week
Jeremiah Quigley, Binghamton – Jr., Guard, Accokeek, Md.
- Averaged 20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in a 2-0 week for Binghamton.
- Shot 61 percent the field (17-for-28).
- Recorded a double-double of 24 points and 12rebounds plus added five assists in a win over Maine on Saturday.
- Had 17 points, five rebounds and six assists in a win over UNH on Thursday.
- This is Quigley’s second #AEHoops Player of the Week honor of the season.
Rookie of the Week
Ace Flagg, Maine – Fr., Guard, Newport, Maine
- Averaged 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals in a 2-0 week.
- Shot 67 percent from the floor (12-for-18) including 4-of-5 from long range.
- Had a career day in a win over UAlbany on Thursday scoring a personal-best 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting while adding six rebounds, three assists and three steals.
- This is Flagg’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 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
March 2 – Player of the Week: Jeremiah Quigley, Binghamton; Rookie of the Week: Ace Flagg, Maine
Follow the @AEHoopsNews on X (Formerly Twitter) account to stay up-to-date on #AEHoops news all season long.
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