America East tonight

Black Bears at Hartford
UMaine must avenge its loss at home to the Hawks to retain any hope of landing in the 4-5 game of the America East tournament. Hartford has been starting three freshmen so the experience and chemistry factor would seem to favor the Black Bears. Black Bears next two games are against the teams competing for the No. 5 position.

Hartford is 6-7 in AE and finishes with UMaine, Stony Brook and at Boston U. (so a win tonight for UMaine will almost assure the Hawks of finishing at 6-10. ... UNH is 5-8 and has already lost to the Black Bears. The Wildcats finish at Boston U., at UMaine and at home vs. Binghamton. ... UMaine finishes at Hartford, home against UNH and at Stony Brook.

Gerald McLemore passed Kevin Reed on UMaine's all-time 3-point list. Reed, in 2005, was a member of the last Black Bears team win an America East tournament game, a feat G-Mac no doubt would also like to match in his final year. Tonight in Hartford would be a good place to start building toward a tournament win.
The pick: Black Bears

Vermont at Albany
The Catamounts just keep winning. Mike Lonergan built a program and John Becker is picking up where he left off. Vermont finds ways to win. Mostly by playing smart, consistent basketball. If Vermont and Stony Brook win out, the Catamounts will grab the No. 1 seed courtesy of their sweep of Boston U.
The pick: Vermont

New Hampshire at Boston U.
Wildcats are improving, but Terriers have too much muscle underneath and, oh, yeah, Darryl Partin and D.J. Irving on the perimeter.
The pick: Boston U.

UMBC at Binghamton
These two teams will square off again in 15 days during the play-in game of the America East tournament. Bearcats in search of win No. 1, still lead the league in attendance.
The pick: Binghamton