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For the first time in eight years, the America East Conference returned to a full slate of action on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. While the UMass Lowell River Hawks remained idle, the rest of the league took to the court with a unified message.
Players and coaches across the conference donned custom “End Racism” shooting shirts, a visual testament to a league that Commissioner Brad Walker notes has been at the forefront of social awareness and education for nearly a decade.
On the court, the holiday produced a shift at the top of the standings and a series of gritty performances. Here is how the action unfolded:
NJIT Claims the Throne
NJIT 79, Bryant 55
The NJIT Highlanders (9-11, 4-1) officially took control of the conference lead with a dominant home win over Bryant. After a competitive first half featuring seven lead changes, NJIT exploded with a 50-32 scoring advantage in the second frame.
- The Duo: Guards Sebastian Robinson (22 points) and David Bolden (17 points) combined for 49 of NJIT’s 79 points.
- The Struggle: The Bulldogs (6-13, 2-3) struggled to find the bottom of the net, shooting just 31% from the field and 24% from beyond the arc.
Great Danes Upset Vermont on the Big Stage
UAlbany 75, Vermont 68
Before a raucous crowd of 3,008 at the Broadview Center and a national audience on ESPNU, UAlbany (7-12, 3-1) secured a statement win over the Catamounts. The difference was defensive pressure; the Great Danes turned 13 Vermont turnovers into 19 points.
- Leading the Charge: Amir Lindsay was electric, dropping 24 points to lead all scorers.
- Missing Piece: Vermont (11-8, 3-1) fought hard behind Gus Yalden’s 21 points but clearly felt the absence of key contributor TJ Long.
UMBC Efficient in Vestal
UMBC 78, Binghamton 60
UMBC (10-7, 3-1) put on an offensive clinic against the Bearcats, shooting a blistering 54.4% from the field. Their ball security was equally impressive, committing only five turnovers the entire game.
- Depth Advantage: Jah’Liks King led the starters with 21 points, but Caden Diggs provided the spark off the bench with 14. UMBC’s reserves outscored Binghamton’s bench 27-8.
- Bearcats Performance: Wes Peterson and Zyler Beverly each tallied 18 points for Binghamton (4-16, 0-5), who remain winless in conference play.
Wildcats Stifle Black Bears in Orono
UNH 65, Maine 48
It was a long afternoon for the Maine Black Bears (3-17, 1-4), who struggled to overcome an icy shooting performance. Maine hit just one of their 14 attempts (7.1%) from three-point range, and for the first time this season, no Black Bear starter reached double figures.
- Wildcat Efficiency: UNH (5-12, 1-3) controlled the paint (38 points) and moved the ball well, recording 15 assists. Belal El Shakery paced the balanced attack with 11 points.
America East Standings (As of Jan 20, 2026)
The Road Ahead: The race at the top is a logjam. With five teams within a half-game of each other, the standings could look entirely different by Sunday morning. The action resumes this Thursday night, followed by a full slate on Saturday afternoon.
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