CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-- Top-seeded UMBC, the America East regular-season champion, will take on second-seeded Hartford for the America East Conference men's basketball title on Saturday, March 15 at 12 noon. The game will be played at the Retrievers' RAC Arena and will be televised nationally on ESPN2. The winner of the contest will earn its first-ever bid to the NCAA tournament.

The Retrievers (23-8) knocked off fourth-seeded Vermont, 73-64, to earn their first trip to a conference title game since moving to Division I in 1986. UMBC has 10 of its last 11 games and set a school record for wins at the Division I level with 23.

The Hawks (18-15) downed sixth-seeded Boston University to punch their ticket to the championship tilt. Hartford, which has been a conference member since 1983, is making its first championship game appearance.

The two team split the regular-season series with each team winning on its home court. UMBC senior Brian Hodges hit a three-pointer as time expired to give his team an 86-85 win on January 16. In the rematch, the Hawks held on for a 59-58 victory on the final day of the regular season.