Hartford, Maine, Vermont Improved to 2-0 in League Play, SBU Wins Opener Saturday

M Basketball

Jameel Warney's 18 points led Stony Brook to a win its league opener. The Seawolves were joined by Hartford, Maine and Vermont in the win column Saturday.

Hartford, Maine, Vermont Improved to 2-0 in League Play, SBU Wins Opener Saturday

Updated: January 06, 2013 11:01 am (ET)
by America East Communications

Three America East men's basketball teams improved to 2-0 in America East play Saturday while Stony Brook won its league opener. Home teams were 3-1 and are 6-2 in confrence play so far this season.

Vermont, Hartford and Maine all stayed perfect with wins over Albany, Boston U. and UMBC, respectively, while Stony Brook beat New Hampshire.

Vermont (9-5, 2-0 AE) put together a complete performance en route to a 70-45 win over Albany (12-4, 1-1 AE) at Patrick Gym, its seventh straight over the Great Danes. The Catamounts shot 53 percent from the floor and held the Great Danes, the league's top shooting team, to just 36 percent and forced 16 turnovers. Trey Blue, the Cats' seventh different leading scorer, led Vermont with 15 points while Candon Rusin, Luke Apfeld and Sandro Carissimo all had 12. Mike Black paced Albany with 14.

Hartford (9-6, 2-0 AE), winner of four of its last five games, canned 14 three-point field goals and beat Boston U. (6-9, 0-2 AE), 77-74, at Case Gym. The win snapped the Hawks 10-game losing skid against the Terriers in Boston and saw them improve to 9-6 overall, their best 15-game start in 16 seasons. Wes Cole led Hartford with a game-high 22 points on 6-of-10 shooting from deep. Nate Sikma added 19 points and eight rebounds, while D.J. Irving paced the Terriers with 17 points, six assists and six steals.

Maine (7-8, 2-0 AE) picked up its fourth consecutive win, a 81-66 victory over UMBC (2-13, 0-2 AE) at Alfond Arena. The Black Bears, who are 2-0 in league play for the second-straight year, shot 58 percent from the floor and put all five starters in twin figures. The Retrievers fought back from a 14-point second-half deficit to pull within three (64-61) with 4:22 left, but the Black Bears closed the game on a 17-4 run. Alasdair Fraser and Justin Edwards each had 17 points, while Jon Meshgna added 16 on perfect 5-for-5 shooting. Chase Plummer paced UMBC with 14 points and nine boards.

Stony Brook (10-4, 1-0 AE) won for the seventh time in its last nine outings as it beat New Hampshire (4-10, 0-2 AE) 65-49 to win its league opener for the fifth straight season. The Seawolves, who have won 18 of their last 19 games at Pritchard Gym, were led by Jameel Warney's 18 points and four blocks. Tommy Brenton added five points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Chandler Rhoads paced UNH with 14 points and seven assists.