MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont (14-4, 4-0) brings its five-game winning streak back home to host conference foe Binghamton (5-13, 1-2) on Saturday (Jan. 19). Fans can purchase tickets at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or at the Patrick Gym Box Office on gameday. All of the action can be seen on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app by logging in with your television provider. Fans can also listen to the game on 101.3 The Game and 1013TheGame.com with Jake Marsh on the call.
 
NEW GAME TIME
With heavy snow in the forecast for the Northeast this weekend, Saturday's opening tip has been moved from 7 p.m. to 1 p.m.
 
RELATED LINKS
Binghamton: Video | Radio | Live Stats | Tickets
Game Notes: Vermont
 
RALLY AGAINST CANCER PRESENTED BY INSPIRED CLOSETS
Saturday's matinee is UVM's annual Rally Against Cancer game presented by Inspired Closets. The Catamounts will be wearing special edition lavender jerseys this year - the color that represents the fight against all cancers. Fans are encouraged to wear lavender and fill out a "I Rally For" sign as a part of a pregame ceremony to show that no one has to battle cancer alone. Jerseys will be auctioned off following the game at UVMathletics.com/Auctions and the proceeds will benefit the UVM Cancer Center.
 
EMPIRE STATE OF MIND
Since the start of the 2016-17 season, Vermont is 20-1 against schools located in New York. The run includes non-conference victories over Marist, Hofstra, Siena, and St. Bonaventure while topping league rivals UAlbany, Binghamton, and Stony Brook.
 
DOMINATING AMERICA EAST PLAY
As a quarter of the conference slate is in the books, the Catamounts lead the league in seven statistical categories – scoring offense (76.8 ppg), scoring margin (21.5), field goal percentage (53.4%), three-point percentage (42.3%), fewest rebounds allowed (112), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.21), and total blocks (21). In its four conference games, Vermont has been out in front on the scoreboard for 154:59 of a possible 160 minutes and has not trailed any later than the 18:48 mark of the first half.
 
14-4 STARTS
The Catamounts are off to a 14-4 start for only the ninth time in school history and first time since 2004-05. The last 14-4 start helped the 2004-05 Cats win the conference title and pull off an upset of No. 4 seed Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament. This year's hot start is only the third 14-4 start since 2001-02.
 
SCOUTING BINGHAMTON
The Bearcats were picked to finished sixth in the America East Preseason Coaches' Poll and won their conference opener 69-58 against New Hampshire on Jan. 5 but have dropped their last two league games to Stony Brook and UMBC. Binghamton has been tenacious in protecting the rim with a league-leading 97 blocks. In conference play, the Bearcats have the second-best turnover margin at +2.33 and rank third with 24 takeaways. Newcomer Sam Sessoms guides the team with a 17.2 scoring average. The freshman sits sixth in conference scoring (16.0 ppg) and has been named America East Rookie of the Week five times. J.C. Show trails with 10.4 points per game and has buried the eighth-most three-pointers (37) in the league.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Vermont has dominated the all-time series with a 30-8 record against Binghamton. UVM has won six straight and 16 of the last 18 overall meetings. During John Becker's tenure, the Cats are 12-2 against the Bearcats including a perfect 7-0 mark at Patrick Gym. The Cats' season sweep last year had historical significance – the 68-54 win in Vestal gave the Green and Gold their 320^th regular season conference victory, an America East all-time record, then UVM clinched its eighth regular season conference title with a 75-54 victory in Burlington.   
 
National Life Group is the presenting sponsor of the 2018-19 Vermont men's basketball season