MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
No. 1 Vermont (27-6, 15-1 AE) and No. 2 UMass Lowell (22-9, 11-5 AE) will meet in the Jersey Mike's America East Championship for the second consecutive season on Saturday (Mar. 16) morning at Patrick Gym. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. ET. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Students can claim tickets in-person at the Patrick Gym lobby ticket counter at 8 a.m.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday's title game will be nationally televised on ESPN2 with Robert Lee and Randolph Childress on the call. The broadcast will also be available for streaming on ESPN+. Westwood One will produce a national radio broadcast with Cooper Boardman and Nick Bahe on the call. Fans can also listen to the game for free 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. The radio broadcast is available via the Varsity Network App with Brian McLaughlin and Bernie Cieplicki on the call. 
 
RELATED LINKS
Championship Central
Watch on ESPN+
Listen: Varsity Network | Westwood One
Live Stats
Game Notes: Vermont | UMass Lowell
CatamounTV Press Conference: Coach Becker | Deloney | Fiorillo
 
FAN FEST
Fans are encouraged to arrive to Patrick Gym early on Saturday morning for Fan Fest, located in the MAC Court. Fan Fest begins at 9 a.m. There will be free food, lawn games, a bouncy castle, and many other activities. Fans can enter to win a UVM men's basketball jersey signed by the team.
 
WATCH PARTY LOCATIONS
Can't make it to Patrick Gym on Saturday? Watch the Catamounts on ESPN2 at Duke's Public House, the Windjammer and Upper Deck Pub, and Zero Gravity.
 
CHASING A THREE-PEAT
Vermont is in search of its first America East Championship three-peat since 2005. A three-peat has only happened four times in league history. Former league member, Northeastern has the longest streak, winning four straight titles from 1984 to 1987.
 
TITLE GAME REMATCH
The Catamounts and River Hawks meet in the America East Championship Game at Patrick Gym for the second consecutive season. Vermont secured its 10th conference title with a 72-59 victory over UMass Lowell in last year's championship game. UVM rallied back from a 29-25 halftime deficit by grabbing the first four points of the second frame. The victory was Vermont's lone win of the season when trailing at the half. Dylan Penn scored a game-high 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting and was named Reggie Lewis Most Outstanding Player. Matt Veretto scored 15 points in the victory – all in the second half. Aaron Deloney was also named to the All-Championship Team.
 
SCOUTING THE RIVER HAWKS
UMass Lowell enters its third title game in four seasons after beating No. 7 UMBC (W, 94-89 OT) in the quarterfinals and No. 3 Bryant (W, 77-70) in the semifinals. The River Hawks are led by All-Conference First Team and All-Defensive selection Max Brooks who was 11th in conference play in scoring (15.3 ppg) while leading in field goal percentage (64.6%) and blocks (2.7 bpg). Sixth Man of the Year and All-Conference Second Team selection Quinton Mincey led the River Hawks in scoring during league play with 18.6 points per game. Ayinde Hikim was also named to the All-Conference Second Team. UMass Lowell had the second highest scoring offense (79.9 ppg) in league play but committed the second most turnovers per game (12.2). The River Hawks led conference play in rebounding (38.6 rpg).
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
The Catamounts own a 19-4 record in the all-time series with the River Hawks, including a 10-1 record at Patrick Gym. UVM is 1-0 against UML in the playoffs after last year's championship victory. Vermont earned wins in both regular season meetings with UMass Lowell this season. Shamir Bogues scored 19 points and Ileri Ayo-Faleye recorded his first career double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds), along with a career-high five blocks in a 72-65 overtime victory at UMass Lowell. Aaron Deloney posted career-highs in points (33), field goals (12), and three pointers (8) to lead Vermont to a 74-62 win on Senior Day.   
 
BECKER IN CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
Cioffi Men's Basketball Head Coach John Becker will be coaching in his ninth championship game in 13 seasons as bench boss at Vermont. He owns a 5-3 record in title games and has a league record six America East titles with the 2020 championship included. Becker tied the America East Playoffs wins record in Tuesday's semifinal, recording his 25th tournament victory to tie former Drexel and New Hampshire coach Bill Herrion.
 
AD'S RINGS
Aaron Deloney can join Ben Shungu '22 and Robin Duncan '23 as the only players in program history to win four America East Championships. Deloney was a member of the 2020, 2022, and 2023 title-winning teams. Deloney will be playing in his 141st game as a Catamount on Saturday, which will tie him for second-most all-time with Cam Ward '18.
 
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
UVM is 44-2 (.957) at Patrick Gym since the start of the 2021-22 season, and 101-10 (.910) since 2016-17. The Cats are 239-52 (.821) in Burlington since the start of 2002-03 – Vermont's first championship winning season. The Catamounts have won 32 straight home games against America East schools. Vermont is 8-3 in title games at Patrick Gym.

COACH OF THE YEAR
Cioffi Men's Basketball Head Coach John Becker earned his seventh America East Coach of the Year award after leading Vermont to its eighth consecutive regular season title. The UVM bench boss has collected Coach of the Year Awards in six of those eight seasons. The Catamounts won the regular season by three games this year, posting a 15-1 record in America East play. UVM's 25 overall regular season wins tie for the second most in program history. Becker's seven America East Coach of the Year awards tie him for the fourth-most awards in a single conference in the history of NCAA Division I Men's Basketball.
 
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Shamir Bogues was named America East Newcomer of the Year, awarded to the league's top transfer, while also earning All-Conference First Team and All-Defensive honors. The Killeen, Texas native led the Catamounts in scoring seven times this season, including a team-best four times in America East play. Vermont was 4-0 in league play when Bogues led in scoring. Bogues scored a season-high 23 points in UVM's thrilling 20-point comeback at UMBC. He led the Catamounts in rebounding (5.3 rpg) and steals (1.1 spg) in league play, while ranking second in assists (2.4 apg) and third in scoring (10.1 ppg). Bogues ranked third in America East play in adjusted defensive rating (94.2).
 
MORE AMERICA EAST AWARDS
Three Catamounts received All-Conference honors: Shamir Bogues (First Team), Aaron Deloney (Second Team), TJ Long (Third Team). Bogues and Ileri Ayo-Faleye received All-Defensive honors. Matt Veretto earned All-Academic honors for the second consecutive season.
 
McGee Automotive Family is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's basketball