America East Basketball News and Notes

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The final month of the conference basketball season is about to begin. There is still plenty to be decided between now and the end of February. Let’s take a look at where things stand as the final month commences.

UMBC’s Jairus Lyles is having a terrific season for the Retrievers. He leads the league in scoring at 20.4 points a game, which places him 30th in the nation. Last Saturday, in a win over Maine, Lyles poured in 34 points to help his team get the win. The Retrievers sit at 6-2 in second place two games behind conference leader Vermont.

Lyles Earns @AmericaEast, @CSMadness Honors; Akin Tabbed #AEMBB Rookie of the Week https://t.co/4TklzYCaZi #RetrieverNation @UMBC pic.twitter.com/djlD7RO00d

— UMBC Men's Basketball (@UMBC_MBB) January 29, 2018

Hartford senior big man Hassan Attia became the third player in program history to tally 100 blocks. The milestone occurred in a win over Maine back on January 18. His team’s 12 wins have already surpassed their win total for all of last year which was nine and they have posted the most wins since 2014-15.

Hawks head coach John Gallagher will be looking to make some history of his own on Wednesday night. Hartford travels to Durham NH to take on the UNH Wildcats. With a win in game two of a three-game road trip, Gallagher will reach 100 wins in his coaching career.

BIG #AEHoops game at home Wednesday vs. Hartford and our first since students are back on campus, Coach Herrion and the boys need you there!

PACK the student section and get LOUD Wednesday night!! #GoUNH pic.twitter.com/T1Zf71VdTQ

— UNH Men's Basketball (@UNHMBB) January 29, 2018

If there is a way to measure success when it comes to the UMass Lowell River Hawks, maybe this will help. Going into last Saturday’s game with Hartford, a contest in which the River Hawks blew a 26-point first-half lead and then the game. When Matt Harris scored 11 or more points the River Hawks are 7-4. When he does not their record drops to 1-8.

The conference leaders, the Vermont Catamounts enter the week with an RPI of 57. It’s the best in the league. They also rank 14th in the Collegeinsider.com Mid Major top 25. One other America East team shows up in that poll, Albany sits at number 20.

That will do it for this week. Stay tuned to NGSC Sports for more next week.