
We have reached the quarter mark of the America East Basketball schedule. Two teams, the Bryant College Bulldogs and the Maine Black Bears are tied for the conference lead. Both teams take four-game winning streaks into this week’s play. There is still plenty of time for lots of movement in the standings, so let’s see where we are after conference games.
The four-game winning streak for the Bulldogs (10-9, 4-0) has moved them to within the top 150 of the NET rankings for the first time this year. They also received seven votes in this week’s Mid-Major poll Last week, Bryant took home two wins. On the road at UAlbany, then at home vs UMass Lowell. America East Player of the Week Earl Timberlake was a big reason why. In the two wins, Timberlake averaged 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and four blocks. The team averaged 87 points in the two wins last week. This is the second straight year that the Bulldogs have started the league season at 4-0. In their win over the Great Danes, Bryant placed four of their five starters in double figures. They also got 11 points off the bench from Kvonn Cramer. They would turn the ball over only nine times while getting 48 points in the paint against the River Hawks. Bryant had this game in control from the jump. Bryant had all five starters in double figures led by Barry Evans with 24 points and a double-double from Timberlake of 14 points and 18 rebounds. Bryant did a number on the boards taking 56 for the game which led to 44 points in the paint. The Bulldogs served notice they are a team to be reckoned with.
The Black Bears (12-8, 4-1) went on the road for two games and won both of them. Last Thursday, they defeated NJIT 57-44 as AJ Lopez had a game-high 18 points. The Black Bears won this game with the defense holding the Highlanders to 33.3% shooting from the field (16-of-48), and 20% from 3-point range (2-of-10). NJIT did get a double-double from Tim Moore of 10 points and 12 rebounds. On Saturday, they traveled to UMBC and won 87-62. The Black Bears shot 56.3% from the field (36-of-64) and 47.8% from deep (11-of-23). Five players got in double figures, four of them starters led by Quion Burns’ double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds. Maine led this game from the opening tip.
The loss to Maine was part of a 0-2 week for UMBC. Earlier in the week, they lost at home to UNH by a 79-76 score. The Wildcats placed five in double figures, four of them starters. A double-double came from Khalil Badru who is this week’s America East Rookie of the Week with 10 points and 10 rebounds. In a loss to NJIT on Saturday, Badru had a career-high of 16 points to go with 10 boards. It has been a rough go of it for UNH (4-16, 2-3) however, there may be light at the end of the tunnel.
The UMass Lowell River Hawks (13-6, 2-2) are starting to become a tough team to figure out. While they are 11-1 at Costello Athletic Center, they are just 2-5 on the road. The loss in Smithfield, RI on Saturday was never a contest as they shot just 29.4% from the field (20-of-68) and 23.1% from long-range (6-of-26). They were outrebounded 56-39 and the Bulldogs also blocked 11 shots. For a team that has high hopes for this season, Saturday’s loss needs to be a wake-up call that things need to get better.
With that said, this week’s big matchup is Maine at UMass Lowell. The Black Bears are off to their best start in the league since the 2010-11 season. Guard Kellen Tynes is second in the nation in steals with 3.4 a game. 5th-year River Hawks senior Max Brooks is third in the country in field goal percentage at .701% and sixth in blocked shots at 2.7 a game. UMass Lowell plays both games this week at home.
There is more good news for the league. The January 30th game between Bryant and UMBC will be broadcast on ESPNU at 7 PM. This will be the 18th straight season that an AE hoops game is on ESPNU. The Retrievers are led by Bryce Johnson (16.9 points), Marcus Banks (14.4 points), and forward Rafaei Pinzon who is sixth in the country in shooting at 46.2% from three-point land.
Next week we will be back with more from the America East Conference.
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