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Top-seeded Vermont (27-5, 17-1 AE) hosts No. 2 UMBC (18-13, 11-7 AE) in the 2022 America East Championship Game on Saturday (Mar. 12) at Patrick Gym. Tip-off is slated for 11 a.m. Fans in attendance are encouraged to wear white to "White Out" Patrick Gym.
TELEVISION & BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday's America East Title Game will be nationally-televised on ESPN2 with Doug Sherman and Paul Biancardi on the call. Fans can also view the UVM-UMBC matchup on the ESPN App by logging in with their television provider. Saturday's game will also broadcast nationally on the radio airwaves with Chris Lewis and Mo Cassara on the call for Westwood One. Locally, Brian McLaughlin and Bernie Cieplicki will have the call on the Vermont Sports Network, from Learfield on The Game, which will air on 97.1 FM in Burlington, 105.9 FM in Plattsburgh, and 960 AM around the rest of the region.
FAN FEST
Fans are invited to attend Fan Fest on Saturday morning in the Patrick Gym lobby at 9:30 a.m. There will be live music, giveaways, crafts, and more!
WATCH PARTIES
The Windjammer and Upper Deck Pub, and Zero Gravity, will be hosting watch parties for Saturday's America East Championship Game. Fans who are unable to purchase tickets are encouraged to stop by and support their Cats in an exciting environment at either of these locations.
RELATED LINKS
Watch | Listen | Listen | Live Stats | Tickets
Game Notes: Vermont | UMBC
CatamounTV Press Conference: Becker | Shungu | Davis
SCOUTING THE RETRIEVERS
UMBC advanced to Saturday's title game after defeating No. 4 Hartford 80-60 in the America East Semifinals on Wednesday (Mar. 9). The second-seeded Retrievers also defeated No. 7 UMass Lowell (W, 93-85) in overtime to open the America East Playoffs. UMBC is led by All-Conference First Team member Keondre Kennedy who has averaged 15.0 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game this season. L.J. Owens and Darnell Rogers earned All-Conference Third Team honors, both averaging double figures this season. Owens posted an 11.5 scoring average while shooting an impressive 44.0% from deep this season. Rogers was second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.8 points per game and posting a team-high 3.8 assists per game.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Vermont holds a 38-9 all-time series mark against UMBC, including an 18-4 mark at Patrick Gym. This will be the ninth time the two teams have matched up during tournament play with Vermont owning a 7-2 mark against UMBC in the America East Playoffs. UVM swept UMBC in conference play this season with an 86-69 win on Jan. 15 in Baltimore, and an 86-59 victory on Feb. 19 at Patrick Gym.
Ryan Davis (19.5 ppg),
Aaron Deloney (15.0 ppg), and
Ben Shungu (14.0 ppg) have all averaged double figures for the Catamounts against the Retrievers this season.
CATS-RETRIEVERS IN TITLE GAME
Vermont and UMBC meet in the America East Championship Game for the third time in the last five seasons. The conference rivals have split the two previous meetings with the Retrievers winning 65-62 in 2018, and the Catamounts earning a 66-49 victory the following year.
HOW WE GOT HERE
The Catamounts registered a pair of commanding victories to open the America East Playoffs and earn their championship game berth. Vermont opened the tournament against No. 8 NJIT and raced to a 98-59 quarterfinal victory at Patrick Gym. UVM then defeated No. 6 Binghamton in the semifinals on Wednesday night by a score of 74-42. Binghamton's 42 points are the fewest allowed by the Catamounts this season.
Ben Shungu has led the Vermont offense, averaging 19.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in tournament play.
Ryan Davis has averaged 16.0 points and 5.0 rebounds through the first two games of the America East Playoffs.
BENNY IN CHAMPIONSHIPS AT PATRICK
South Burlington, Vt. native
Ben Shungu enters his eighth championship game at Patrick Gym, dating back to his freshman year at Rice Memorial High School. Shungu's teams have had a 5-2 record in title games at Patrick Gym, with three Vermont High School State Championships and two America East Title Game victories.
Key Motors of South Burlington is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's basketball
