MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Top-seeded Vermont (27-5, 16-0) hosts fourth-seeded New Hampshire (20-11, 10-6) on Monday (March 6) in the semifinal round of the America East Tournament. Action gets underway at 7 p.m. A limited number of tickets are still available. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting the UVM Athletics Ticket Office during office hours. All UVM men's basketball games can be heard on ESPN 101.3 FM and online at 1013ESPN.com with Sam Hyman on the call. 
 
CATS ON ESPN3
Fans can watch the semifinal matchup on ESPN3 and the watchESPN app by logging in with your cable provider.
 
RELATED LINKS
New Hampshire: Video | Live Stats | Audio 
CatamounTV: Semifinal Preview
Game Notes: Vermont | New Hampshire
America East Playoff Central
 
SETTING THE SCENE
The twin state rivalry adds another postseason chapter on Monday. The green and gold Cats and the navy and white Cats will meet in the America East Tournament for the fourth time in the last five seasons. The Catamounts have advanced to the semifinal round of the conference tournament for the 15th time in the last 16 seasons. Vermont is seeking its 10th America East Championship berth (11th overall). New Hampshire has matched a program record with 20 wins this season, set by last year's squad, and looking for its first appearance in the America East title game in program history.

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AMERICA EAST AWARDS & ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
The Catamounts swept the America East Major Awards and landed two others on All-Conference teams, as the conference announced its year-end awards and All-Conference Teams last Monday. A total of seven Catamounts received recognition from America East – John Becker (Coach of the Year), Trae Bell-Haynes (Player of the Year, All-Conference First Team), Anthony Lamb (Rookie of the Year, All-Conference Second Team, All-Rookie Team), Darren Payen (Sixth Man of the Year), and Dre Wills (Defensive Player of the Year, All-Defensive Team). Ernie Duncan and Payton Henson were also named to the All-Conference Third Team.

LAST TIME OUT | Maine Highlights
Vermont advanced to semifinal round of the America East Tournament with an 86-41 win over eighth-seeded Maine in the quarterfinal round on Wednesday night. The Catamounts dominated the game from the opening tip. UVM's energized defense held Maine to 32.0% (16-for-50) from the floor and 20.0% (3-for-15) from long distance. The green and gold won the battle on the glass (38-28), points in the paint (60-16), bench points (39-3), and turnovers (16-7). Lamb welcomed postseason play in style with a game-high 23 points, five rebounds, and a pair of blocks. Wills followed with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting with four rebounds and four assists. Payen added 12 points and Bell-Haynes rounded out four Vermont players in double figures with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting and the junior recorded three steals.
 
PERFECT SHOOTING STARS
In Wednesday night's semifinal win over Maine, Lamb set the UVM postseason record for most consecutive field goals made in a single game (10). Lamb's 10-for-10 night ranks second on the all-time list behind Luke Apfeld's 11-for-11 night on Dec. 23, 2011 at Towson. The freshman was not alone with a perfect shooting night as Payen was 5-for-5 from the floor.
 
PLAYOFF DÉJÀ VU
In last year's America East Tournament, the Catamounts hosted Maine in the quarterfinal round before advancing to play New Hampshire in the semifinal round. Fast forward to a new season and the same opponents in the conference tournament for Vermont - the green and gold rolled past Maine last Wednesday in the quarterfinal and welcome New Hampshire in the semifinal round.

SCOUTING NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire will be playing in its third straight America East Semifinal after beating UMBC 74-65 in Wednesday's quarterfinal matchup. The Wildcats have tied the program record with 20 wins this season behind a trifecta of America East All-Conference selections - Tanner Leissner, Jaleen Smith, and Daniel Dion. Leisnner landed on the All-Conference First Team after dropping 17.4 points per game this season. Smith earned All-Conference Second Team honors as the senior followed Leissner with 15.8 points per game. Dion was named to the All-Conference Third Team as the third Wildcat in double figures at 13.8 points per game. The trio each surpassed the 1,000-career point plateau this season.

SERIES HISTORY
Vermont leads the all-time series with New Hampshire 100-48. The 100-win total is the most for the green and gold against a single opponent. The Cats have also won 19 of the last 22 meetings and Becker is 11-1 in his career against UNH. UVM is 6-0 against UNH in the conference tournament with a pair of wins in the semifinal round.

WHO'S NEXT
If Vermont can advance to the America East Championship, the Cats will either host No. 2 seed Stony Brook or No. 3 seed Albany on Saturday (March 11) at 11 a.m. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2. Visit UVMathletics.com for ticket and game information.
 
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