MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Top-seeded Vermont (27-6, 15-1) will try to capture its seventh trip to the NCAA Tournament on Saturday morning (March 10) as the Cats host second-seeded UMBC (23-10, 12-4) in the America East Championship Game. The opening tip is set for 11 a.m.
 
TELEVISION COVERAGE
The 2018 conference championship will be nationally televised on ESPN2 and the watchESPN app by logging in with your television provider. DirecTV subscribers can find ESPN2 on channel 209 while Dish Network viewers can tune-in to channel 143. Doug Sherman and Mike Plansky will have the call.
 
RADIO COVERAGE
Westwood One will have the national radio broadcast of the game with Kevin Lee and Jon Crispin on the call. Local radio coverage can be heard on 101.3 ESPN with Sam Hyman and Bernie Cieplicki covering the game. Pregame coverage will start at 10:30 a.m.
 
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
To expedite your entrance into our venues, we recommend fans do not bring bags into UVM Athletic facilities. General guests may bring approved bags into the arena, but all bags will be subject to search for prohibited items by Event Staff. Due to the implementation of our policy, fans that do not have a clear bag will be provided one at the entrance of the facility during the conference title game. However, bags are subject to search for any ticketed event to ensure prohibited items are not being brought into the venue. Click here to view UVM's Fan Guide.
 
STUDENT TICKETS
Student tickets will be available on at 8 a.m. in the lobby of Patrick Gym. Tickets can only be picked up in-person. Students must have their ID to pick up a ticket and to enter the game.

RELATED LINKS
UMBC: Video | Audio (Local) | Audio (National) | Live Stats
CatamounTV: UMBC Preview | Finals Promo | Stony Brook Highlights
Game Notes: Vermont | UMBC
America East: Playoff Central
 
FAN FEST
UVM Athletics will host a pre-game Fan Fest on Saturday morning prior to the 2018 America East Men's Basketball Championship Game in the Indoor Turf Facility near the west lobby of Patrick Gym. The activities will run from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. 101.3 ESPN Radio will be broadcasting its Saturday morning show 'Sports Saturday' live from Fan Fest. The festivities will feature food and beverages from McKenzie Country Classics, The Bagel Place, Ramunto's, Moe's, Lake Champlain Chocolates, Coke, and much more. During the festivities, fans will be able to play games, visit our 'Gold Out' swag table, and have their face painted thanks to the UVM Alumni Association. WCAX will be providing free gold T-shirts to the first 500 fans in attendance to the fan fest.
 
GOLD OUT
Fans are encouraged to wear gold apparel as a part of the 'Gold Out' in front of a nationally-televised audience on ESPN2.
 
WATCH LOCATIONS
Fans unable to attend the championship bout are encouraged to visit one of our many local 'Watch Here' sites to cheer on the Catamounts. The game can be viewed at The UVM Alumni House, Trader Duke's, and The Upper Deck Pub at the Windjammer, which will be opening early for this special occasion at 10:30 a.m. Nationwide 'Watch Here' sites through the UVM Alumni Association can be found by clicking here. These events are free and no RSVP is necessary.
 
LAST TIME OUT | Stony Brook Highlights
The top-seeded Vermont Catamounts had three seniors score double figures in a 70-51 win over Stony Brook in the America East Semifinal on Tuesday night. The Cats cashed in at the charity stripe with a season-high 29 free throws while the defensive unit held the Seawolves to 33.3% (19-for-57) shooting in the contest. Drew Urquhart racked up a game-high 19 points, with 18 coming in the second half, and grabbed eight rebounds. The senior was 4-of-9 from the floor and made 11-of-15 attempts at the line. Payton Henson followed with 13 points, five boards, and two blocks. Henson hit 5-of-9 attempts from the field, including 3-of-4 from long distance. Cam Ward added 12 points and three assists off the bench.
 
TBH EARNS USBWA HONORS
Bell-Haynes was named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-District I Team on Tuesday. The District I region consists of schools in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Bell-Haynes adds another accolade to his trophy case after collecting his second straight America East Player of the Year award last week. He has averaged 15.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game as a senior and helped the Catamounts to their second-highest single season win total (27) in program history.
 
GOING FOR THE CENTURY MARK
With one more win, the Class of 2018 can become the first UVM graduating class to accrue 100 career victories.
 
SCOUTING UMBC
The Retrievers have reached the conference final after completing a second-half comeback and beating UMass Lowell 89-77 in the quarterfinal, then rolled to a 75-60 victory over Hartford in the semifinal. America East Defensive Player of the Year K.J. Maura has guided UMBC during the tournament with a 17.0 scoring average. Maura has shot 54.5% from the floor over the last two games and recorded 12 assists. Jairus Lyles, an All-Conference First Team selection, follows with 15.5 points per game. The senior has also averaged 6.0 boards and 2.5 steals during the postseason. Jourdan Grant has provided a spark off the bench for UMBC with 13.5 points per game and he is one of the top shooters on the team with a 57.1% field goal percentage.

INSIDE THE SERIES
The Catamounts hold a commanding 32-4 edge over the Retrievers. Vermont has won 23 straight meetings with UMBC – the longest active streak for the Cats against a Division I opponent. The two rivals have met six times during the America East Tournament as UVM holds a 5-1 record. UVM's last loss to UMBC was during the 2008 America East Semifinal on March, 9, 2008. John Becker is 16-0 against UMBC during his UVM coaching tenure.
 
ENTRANCE TO THE GAME
To comply with the America East Tournament policies, fans will not be admitted to the building from the outside stairway in the parking lot between Patrick Gym and Gutterson Fieldhouse.  Fans who park on this side of the building may enter through the loading dock area and go up the stairs to the gym. There is an elevator down the hallway that can bring fans upstairs to the Patrick Gym lobby (right next to the ticket counter).
 
PARKING
For the convenience of our fans attending men's basketball games at Patrick Gym, a shuttle will run constantly from the Jeffords parking lot (also known as the water tower lot) to the front of Patrick Gym. By taking the shuttle, fans can get back to their vehicle and on the road without sitting in as much traffic.
 
Fans with a disabled parking placard or a Victory Club VIP parking pass should have these out and ready when approaching the parking lot while on Spear Street for both your convenience as well as the efficiency of the UVM Police, security and Transportation and Parking staff members. You may be directed to a different entrance (turning off Spear Street into the parking area) once all other parking areas at Patrick are full but you will be able to access your respective parking area. Please be sure to note parking signs to know when the Gutterson parking garage is full and all remaining traffic is being directed to the Jeffords lot.
 
SELECTION SUNDAY
With a win, Vermont will receive the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament and will await the selection committee's announcement on Sunday (March 11) to find out its opponent and region. If UVM cannot capture its seventh America East crown, the Cats will compete in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) after earning an automatic bid with their America East regular season title. Visit UVMathletics.com for ticket and game information.
 
Canon Solutions America is the presenting sponsor of the 2017-18 Vermont men's basketball season