Cats vs. Cats on CBS Sports Network

AExtra continues to preview national broadcasts of America East basketball.

New Hampshire at Vermont, 12 p.m. – CBS Sports Network

The New Hampshire men’s basketball team sat at 0-3 in league play entering a matchup with Vermont about two weeks ago in Durham.

“I think we were desperate and playing desperate because we really needed a win,” UNH coach Bill Herrion told AExtra.

The Wildcats needed a win and they got a win defeating Vermont, 72-64.

Vermont and New Hampshire get together again on Sunday, this time in Burlington, on national television and with much more on the line.

Vermont comes into Sunday’s contest winners of three straight, holding opponents to just over 62 points per game which is second in the league and looking to stay in the top pack of teams in the league standings.

New Hampshire, meanwhile, is coming off a loss at home to Maine and is again in search of an important conference victory. 

We spoke with UVM coach John Becker and Herrion about a big conference matchup Sunday afternoon.

Herrion on the win against Vermont earlier in the season…

“When we defend hard and when we rebound the basketball and hold our own on the glass, we have a chance to beat people and I think that’s what we did that day against Vermont. Going into that game we were very concerned about the glass…and we were even on the glass with them. It was a great win for us at the time.”

Becker on the loss UNH earlier in the season…

“They really shot the ball well, played well offensively and when they needed a bucket they were able to get it. First game against UNH we had a lot of breakdowns and they kind of exposed some of our defensive flaws and we’ve been working hard since that game to get better on that end of the court and we’re looking forward to getting another shot at UNH.

Herrion on playing in the tough environment at Patrick Gym…

“After our game here, they’re playing great and look really good. We’re going into a very tough environment against a team that is playing really well. I think taking the crowd out of the game is crucial so the first five-ten minutes of the game we’ve got to execute, take care of the ball.

Becker on what we can expect out of UNH…

“They’re coming off a tough one against Maine. They gave up 80 points so I’m sure coach Herrion will have them ready focusing on their defense.  I know it’s going to be a physical, tough game. They’re going to get out and guard us so we’ve got to do a good job of not turning the ball over and hopefully shoot it a little better.”

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You can catch all the action on CBS Sports Network Sunday at noon.

Stony Brook Downs Boston U.

It was one of the best games we have seen all season - back and forth, dunks, big shots and a crazy crowd.

Stony Brook fed off that crowd and vaulted itself into first-place in the conference standings with a 66-57 win over visiting Boston University on Friday night.

We had our video camera to bring you some of the memorable moments from a tremendous
game. Take a look...

Battle on Long Island

AExtra continues to preview national broadcasts of America East basketball.

Boston University at Stony Brook, 9 p.m. -- ESPNU

It’s only conference game No. 9 for both teams but don’t tell either of them that it’s not a big game.

The game is sold out. Students are back on campus. It will be loud, crazy and there will be all sorts of red.

Boston University and Stony Brook tangle in what many are dubbing a “can’t miss” matchup for first-place as we kick-off the second wave of conference play.

This marks the second meeting between the Seawolves and Terriers this season. Joe Jones and his Boston boys took the first matchup a few weeks back and have been on a tear ever since. Winners of their last seven, Boston U. has outscored opponents by over 14 points per game during the run. Steve Pikiell and Stony Brook will try to keep that from happening on their home court where they have won ten straight games.

What can we expect on Friday night?

According to both coaches, another typical Boston U.-Stony Brook game. And that means a battle on Long Island.

Steve Pikiell on the anticipated atmosphere…

“Last three years we’ve had an 88 percent winning percentage at home so it has been a great home court for us. The community comes out, the students are back in school which is great because our students come out and hopefully it will be a great environment.”

Joe Jones on handling the hostile crowd…

“Hopefully we’ll handle it well. We’ve been tested that way a few times already this year and hopefully we’ve grown from those experiences that’s why you go through the season and we are able to stay poised through tough stretches and maintain our poise throughout the 40 minutes.”

Pikiell on his team’s performance the last few weeks

“Ever since the BCS games, we’ve been playing some good basketball. We’ve been focused and our defense, I think, is getting better. And Tommy Brenton’s really shaping up coming back from a whole year off, getting back into form and our bench has been good. But our defense and rebounding have been really good.”

Jones on the seven-game winning streak…

“To be honest with you, I’ve been happy with the way we’ve played throughout the year. Our guys have been able to maintain a positive attitude throughout the season, we haven’t gotten too high or too low, they’re used to having success and used to handling adversity. And I think our bench has gotten better and better each week and that’s really going to help us down the stretch.

Pikiell on Friday’s game…

“Preseason pick to win it, defending champs, they’re the best until someone else proves otherwise. Darryl Partin is very good, D.J. Irving is very good, they’ve got experience – four guys played in the NCAA Tournament in the starting lineup – very challenging. Every time we play them its [tough and physical] and I expect more of the same.”

Jones on Friday’s game…

“I don’t know if we can expect anything different from Stony Brook. I expect both teams to play better than they did the first time. Steve’s teams always play really hard, they always play together, always well coached and competitive and I really enjoy competing against his teams because you know it’s going to be a dog fight every time. We expect a very physical game, we expect a very intense game and it should be a great matchup.”

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Don’t miss any of Friday’s action and tune into ESPNU for what is sure to be one of the best games we see in the conference this season. We’ve got a 9 p.m. tip from Long Island.

America East Daily Word - January 26

Boston University versus Stony Brook. 

That one simple line says it all. 

Two days ago, this game on Long Island was already sold out. The only tickets left were for Stony Brook students. Pritchard Gym will be loud, it will be crazy and undoubtedly, it will be red. 

Adding to the intrigue is the national television audience on ESPNU and the fact the two teams are both 7-1 as we kick off the second wave of conference play.

Earlier this week, Myron Medcalf’s Mid-Major Report on ESPN.com dubbed this one as “one you don’t want to miss.” 

Despite the fact neither team appears in any sort of polls, each is playing some of the best basketball in the conference. Boston U. has won seven in a row outscoring opponents by over 14 points per game during the streak while Stony Brook continues to play lockdown defense and dominate the boards leading the league in both categories. 

That is certainly reason to catch this game on Friday night at 9 p.m. on ESPNU. 

Check out the full mid-major report, here. 

We had a crazy busy slate of hoops yesterday and it all started with some Midday Madness down in Baltimore – the UMBC and Boston U. women squaring off on ESPN3. Miss the game? No worries, check out the replay. 

Albany and Binghamton went home-and-home and the Danes won the evening sweeping both games. The men received a scare at home but thanks to a fiery halftime speech, they prevailed. The Great Dane women, meanwhile, won in the final seconds in Binghamton. 

New Hampshire and Maine split their matchups last evening with the road teams winning both games. Denise Beliveau powered the UNH women in Orono and Gerald McLemore led the way for the Black Bear men in Durham. The Portsmouth Press Herald has more from each. 

Lastly, Stony Brook and Hartford also split their games last evening. Newsday tells us how Bryan Dougher and the Seawolves jumped on the Hawks while the Hartford Courant takes us through the Hartford women’s win back in Connecticut.

Taking a step away from the hardwood now and onto the lacrosse field, plenty of America East faces will be in action this weekend for US Lacrosse’s annual Champion Challenge.

Boston University attacker Danielle Etrasco, the 2011 America East Co-Player of the Year, will team up with two of her coaches (Katie Hertsch and Sarah Bullard) along with UMBC head coach Kelly Berger and Albany assistant Katie Rowan for the US women’s squad. 

America East alumni will suit for the US men, as well. Former players include UMBC’s Peet Pollion, a first-team all-conference selection in 2009, along with Stony Brook’s Steve Waldeck and Hofstra’s Doug Shanahan, both three-time first-team all-conference players. 

The action from this weekend can be seen on ESPN3 and ESPNU. 

For all your news and notes from around the conference make sure to check out AmericaEast.com.

America East Daily Word - January 25

He’s been America East Rookie of the Week five times this season. He’s had five games with at least 10 points, five rebounds and five assists. He’s had a dunk spectacular enough to get over 4,000 views on YouTube.

He’s Maine’s rookie sensation Justin Edwards.

And according to ESPN’s John Gasaway, the guard is ranked 11^th out of all freshman in the country.

That puts him in conversations with Kentucky’s Anthony Davis (ranked #1) and Duke’s Austin Rivers, who is ranked just one slot ahead of Edwards at No. 10.

Edwards has had an immediate impact for the Black Bears in Orono contributing huge minutes and serious numbers in his rookie season. He’s fifth in the league in scoring (15.2 ppg) and sixth in rebounding (6.2 rpg) and has played his best on the biggest of stages. He pumped in 20 points in each of Maine’s games against defending national champion UConn and fellow Big East foe Notre Dame.

And at 6-foot-3, Edwards has some leap in those legs. You haven’t seen the dunk yet? Well then, take a look.

The full article is available here (subscription required).

Elsewhere, it was quite a week for Albany guard Logan Aronhalt. The junior sharpshooter felt about as high and as low as a college athlete can. He scored his 1,000^th career point last Thursday at Vermont but then had to return to his native Ohio for the funeral of his grandfather who had passed earlier in the week. The Troy Record blog takes you through Aronalt’s emotional week.

Aronhalt and the Great Danes will be in action tonight when the Binghamton Bearcats pay a visit to the SEFCU Arena, where Albany in 7-0 this year. The Press and Sun Bulletin says Binghamton will rely on the services of Jimmy Gray while, as the Times Union and Troy Record tell us, Albany is not taking the Bearcats lightly. The women's squads go at it in Vestal at the Events Center.

More action tonight includes a home-and-home between New Hampshire and Maine. The I-95 rivalry features the men in Durham and the women in Orono. The women’s game will see the homecoming of Pine Tree State native and UNH’s newest weapon, Morgan Frame. Meanwhile, the men square off in a battle for sixth place in the conference standings. The Bangor Daily News has more.

Also this evening, Stony Brook and the resurgent Hartford Hawks meet on Long Island. A Stony Brook win would set up a matchup of 8-1 teams in Friday’s ESPNU broadcast of Boston U. at Stony Brook. Meanwhile, the Hartford women host Stony Brook.

And make sure to check out ESPN3 today at noon for the UMBC-Boston U. women’s game in Baltimore. It’s Midday Madness at the RAC and it is sure to be a good one.

That same matchup took place on the men’s side in Boston last evening with the Terriers continuing to play well, winning their seventh straight, 83-48, over the Retrievers. Rich Thompson from the Boston Herald wraps things up from The Roof.

For all of the live coverage links to tonight’s games, head over to AmericaEast.com.