Today in America East

Only two games left in the America East season and both play a key role in determining seeds for next weekend's league tournament.

Black Bears at Stony Brook
A UMaine win puts the Black Bears into the No. 6 slot opposite No. 3 Boston University and leaves the Seawolves in a first-place tie with Vermont. The Catamounts own the tie-breaker and would be the No. 1 seed. ... A Stony Brook win gives the Seawolves the outright regular season title, the No. 1 seed and most likely puts the Black Bears into the No. 7 slot against No. 2 Vermont. Either way, the Black Bears open with a team that swept them during the regular season.
The pick: Black Bears shock the world - well, at least Long Island - and go into the tournament on a two-game roll.

Black Bears summary
Win or New Hampshire loss: No. 6 seed vs. Boston University
Lose and New Hampshire win: No. 7 seed vs. Vermont.

Binghamton at New Hampshire
UNH would move up to the No. 5 slot (moving Hartford to No. 6) with a victory and a UMaine loss. If the Wildcats and Black Bears both win, the 5-6-7 slots would read: Hartford, UMaine and UNH.
The pick: For UNH, the payoff is huge in this one. A win gets them a date with Albany in the 4-5 game or a matchup with Stony Brook or Vermont in the 2-7. Wildcats win this one.

Saturday, Feb. 25 results

Vermont 80, UMBC 49
Boston U. 64, Hartford 55

Thursday, Feb. 23 result

Albany 74, Binghamton 63

Tonight in America East

Albany at Binghamton
Bearcats host their rivals coming off first win of the season. Can they make it two in a row? Great Danes are dealing with some injury problems, but still figure to be the No. 4 seed for next week's America East tournament.
The pick: Albany

Wednesday, Feb. 22 results

Black Bears 71, New Hampshire 58 ... signs of life from UMaine with a solid, wire-to-wire performance in the home finale. .. The victory moves the Black Bears into sixth place in America East. UMaine is tied with UNH at 6-9, but hold the tiebreaker. ... The win snaps a five-game losing streak for the Black Bears. ... New Hampshire had won four straight and five out of six.

Boston U. 73, UMBC 52

Wednesday night in America East

New Hampshire at Black Bears ... How do you motivate the unmotivated? Try a billboard-sized sign at shootaround that reads, "Binghamton 57, Vermont 53 ... What are you guys waiting for?" ... America East has been mediocre to weak each of the past three years and, somehow, the Black Bears have found a way to play their worst basketball of the season by the time the conference tournament rolls around. Can this year's edition find a way to reverse the trend? There are two games left in the regular season. ... I'll write it again, Binghamton 57, Vermont 53.
The pick: Nothing wakes up a hiberating bear ... UNH.

Boston U. at UMBC ... Well, if Binghamton can beat Vermont, the Retrievers certainly can topple the Terriers, true? No.
The pick: Boston U.

Tuesday, Feb. 21 Results

Binghamton 57, Vermont 53 ... The team with the worst record, worst RPI rating and longest losing streak in America knocks off the hottest team in America East that was two wins from locking up a share of the league title, the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament and and a guaranteed NIT bid. ... So, Black Bears, are you paying attention? Do you think you might be able to muster up the energy to play for 40 minutes?

Stony Brook 74, Hartford 50 ... Seawolves take care of business and now a victory over UMaine from earning the No. 1 seed.