MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Top-seeded Vermont (26-6, 14-2) will try to knock off No. 3 seed and defending conference champion UMBC (21-12, 11-5) in the 2019 America East Championship Game on Saturday morning (March 16). The opening tip is set for 11 a.m. in a rematch of last year's title game.
 
TELEVISION COVERAGE
All of the action will be nationally-televised on ESPN2 and the WatchESPN app by logging in with your television provider. Doug Sherman, Paul Biancardi and Stormy Buonantony will have the call. ESPN2 is located on DirecTV channel 209 while Dish Network viewers can tune-in to channel 143. Burlington Telecom will air the game on channel 29 SD and channel 229 HD. For additional cable listings, contact your local cable provider.
 
RADIO COVERAGE
Westwood One will have the national radio broadcast of the game with Justin Kutcher and former Vermont coach Tom Brennan on the call. Local radio coverage can be heard on 101.3 The Game and 1013TheGame.com with Jake Marsh and Bernie Cieplicki covering the game.
 
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
To expedite your entrance into our venues, we recommend fans do not bring bags into UVM Athletic facilities. General guests may bring approved bags into the arena, but all bags will be subject to search for prohibited items by Event Staff. Due to the implementation of our policy, fans that do not have a clear bag will be provided one at the entrance of the facility during the conference title game. However, bags are subject to search for any ticketed event to ensure prohibited items are not being brought into the venue. Click here to view UVM's Fan Guide.
 
STUDENT TICKETS
Student tickets will be available on Saturday morning at 8 a.m. in the lobby of Patrick Gym. Students can pick up their tickets in-person and must present their I.D. in order to receive a game ticket.

RELATED LINKS
UMBC: Video | Audio (Local) | Audio (National) | Live Stats
CatamounTV: UMBC Preview | Finals Promo | Tickets and Donuts
Game Notes: Vermont | UMBC
America East: Playoff Central
 
FAN FEST
UVM Athletics will host a pre-game Fan Fest on Saturday morning prior to the 2019 title bout in the Indoor Turf Facility near the west lobby of Patrick Gym. The activities will run from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. 101.3 ESPN Radio will be broadcasting its Saturday morning show 'Sports Saturday' live from Fan Fest. The festivities will feature food and beverages from McKenzie Country Classics, Ramunto's, Moe's, Cabot, Coke, All Times Cider, UVM Dining and much more. During the festivities, fans will be able to play games, collect tea trading cards courtesy of Baystate Financial, visit our 'White Out' swag table, and have their face painted thanks to the UVM Alumni Association.
 
WHITE OUT
Fans are encouraged to wear white apparel as a part of the 'White Out' in front of a nationally-televised audience on ESPN2.
 
WATCH LOCATIONS
Fans unable to attend the championship bout are encouraged to visit a 'Watch Here' site to cheer on the Catamounts. Nationwide 'Watch Here' sites through the UVM Alumni Association including the UVM Alumni House can be found by clicking here. These events are free and no RSVP is necessary.
 
CHASING NORTHEASTERN
With one more tournament crown, UVM would tie Northeastern (7) for the most conference titles in league history. Northeastern won the tournament championship in 1981, 1982,1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1991 before moving to the Colonial Athletic Association after the 2004-05 season. 
 
USBWA HONORS FOR BECKER AND LAMB
John Becker and Anthony Lamb earned U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-District I (New England) honors on Tuesday. Becker was named Coach of the Year for the second time in his career after collecting the award back in 2017. The bench boss guided the Cats to a 14-2 league record and the program's ninth regular season championship. Lamb was lauded as the Player of the Year and tabbed to the District I Team for the second time in three years. The junior's 21.1 scoring average is the second-best by a New England player behind Quinnipiac's Cameron Young (23.3).
 
FOUR STRAIGHT TITLE GAME APPEARANCES
The Class of 2019 will become just the third UVM graduating class to make four straight America East Championship Game appearances. The feat was previously accomplished by the Class of 2006 and Class of 2007.
 
SCOUTING UMBC
The Retrievers enter the finals for the second straight season after eliminating No. 4 Hartford 90-85 in double overtime on Tuesday. UMBC earned the No. 3 seed after posting an 11-5 conference record this season. The Retrievers lead America East in steals per game (7.9), turnovers forced per game (15.79), and turnover margin (+3.15). Joe Sherburne (14.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.0 apg) paces the Retrievers' offense and was a member of the America East All-Conference First Team. K.J. Jackson has also averaged double figures with 12.8 points per game and has accumulated the 15th-most steals (74) in the country. The junior made the All-Conference Second Team as well as the All-Defensive Team. Jackson led UMBC's scoring attack on Tuesday with 21 points. R.J. Eytle-Rock (5.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.8 apg) was named to the All-Rookie Team alongside UVM freshman Robin Duncan.

INSIDE THE SERIES
The Catamounts hold a 32-7 all-time edge against the Retrievers and have won 23 of their last 26 meetings. Vermont is 5-2 against the Retrievers in the America East Tournament and will square off for the conference crown in back-to-back years. Becker is 16-3 against UMBC during his eight-year tenure with the Catamounts. Under Becker's guidance, Vermont's offense has averaged 74.6 points per game against UMBC and surrendered only 58.9 points per game on the defensive end.
 
ENTRANCE TO THE GAME
To comply with the America East Tournament policies, fans will not be admitted to the building from the outside stairway in the parking lot between Patrick Gym and Gutterson Fieldhouse.  Fans who park on this side of the building may enter through the loading dock area and go up the stairs to the gym. There is an elevator down the hallway that can bring fans upstairs to the Patrick Gym lobby (right next to the ticket counter).
 
PARKING
For the convenience of our fans attending men's basketball games at Patrick Gym, a shuttle will run constantly from the Jeffords parking lot (also known as the water tower lot) to the front of Patrick Gym. By taking the shuttle, fans can get back to their vehicle and on the road without sitting in as much traffic.
 
Fans with a disabled parking placard or a Victory Club VIP parking pass should have these out and ready when approaching the parking lot while on Spear Street for both your convenience as well as the efficiency of the UVM Police, security and Transportation and Parking staff members. You may be directed to a different entrance (turning off Spear Street into the parking area) once all other parking areas at Patrick are full but you will be able to access your respective parking area. Please be sure to note parking signs to know when the Gutterson parking garage is full and all remaining traffic is being directed to the Jeffords lot.
 
National Life Group is the presenting sponsor of the 2018-19 Vermont men's basketball season