Second-seed Vermont basketball will play its first road game in the America East playoffs in 10 years when the Catamounts square off against No. 1 UMBC in today’s conference title game at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Catonsville, Maryland.
The winner between the Catamounts (22-11) and Retrievers (23-8) will also earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Reaching its 11th league final of 15-year coach John Becker’s tenure, Vermont is chasing the program’s fourth tourney crown in five seasons following last year’s semifinal exit.
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Under Becker, the Catamounts have won seven America East crowns (2012, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024). UMBC last appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2018 when it ousted Vermont in the league title game and then became the first No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 (Virginia) in March Madness history.
In the Catamounts’ last America East tourney game away from Burlington, they lost to Stony Brook in the 2016 final. Since then, they went 22-3 in league playoff games at Patrick Gym.
Vermont and UMBC split this winter’s regular-season matchups, each winning on their home floor. The teams are also meeting in the AE final for the third time (2018, 2019, 2026).
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For details on how to watch/stream and the game time for Friday’s conference championship game, see below.
What channel is Vermont vs UMBC on Saturday, March 14 in America East final?
Vermont will tip off vs. UMBC on ESPN2. Streaming options include the ESPN app.
Vermont vs UMBC start time in America East championship game
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Date: Saturday, March 14
Vermont and UMBC will play at 11 a.m. at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Catonsville, Maryland.
Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Time, TV for Vermont vs. UMBC men’s basketball America East final
