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SMITHFIELD, R.I. — America East Basketball is here.<\/p>\n
After two months of non-conference play, the Bulldogs begin their quest for a America East title. The women open their 16-game slate New Years Day at home against New Hampshire, while the men face Maine in a rematch of last year’s title game Saturday in Orono.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Tip
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\n\tBryant women’s and men’s basketball begin America East play this week.\u00a0
\n\tThe women will host UNH (Jan. 1) and Maine (Jan. 3).
\n\tThe men visit Maine on January 3.
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What’s at Stake<\/p>\n
\n\tEight teams qualify for the America East Playoffs, with the champion receiving the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
\n\tThe top four seeds host quarterfinal games, with the semifinals and finals being played at home sites of the highest remaining seeds.
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How to Watch<\/p>\n
Year Four in the America East<\/p>\n
Bryant Women Off to Hot Start<\/p>\n
Bryant Men Embracing Fresh Start<\/p>\n
\n\tTickets for all Bryant women’s and men’s home games are available at BryantTickets.com<\/a>.
\n\tHome games are on Thursday nights and Saturday afternoons.
\n\tAll America East games are also streamed on ESPN+.
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\n\tBryant begins its fourth season of America East play this week.
\n\tBoth the women and the men have qualified for the playoffs in each of the first three years.
\n\tThe women have hosted a quarterfinal game in each of the last two seasons, reaching the America East Semifinals for the first time last March.
\n\tThe Bryant men are the defending America East Regular Season and Tournament champions, posting a 14-2 conference record before defeating UMBC, UAlbany and Maine to win the title.
\n\tBryant is 33-15 in America East play, posting a 25-6 record over the last two seasons.
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\n\tBryant enters league play as one of the league’s top teams, posting a 10-3 mark in non-conference.
\n\tThe 10 non-conf wins are the most in program history and include a victory over ACC member Boston College.
\n\tBryant currently ranks second in the league in scoring (70.0) and defense (53.5), holding opponents to a league-best .354 field goal percentage.
\n\tBryant also ranks first in three point field goal percentage (37.2), rebounding (37.3) and assists (16.5).
\n\tMia Mancini<\/a> is enjoying a breakout year for the Bulldogs, ranking fifth in the league in scoring (14.8) and first in assists (4.7).
\n\tNia Scott<\/a> is averaging nearly a double-double with 12.9 ppg and 9.2 rpg.
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\n\tThe Bulldog men welcome the New Year and a fresh start after a 4-10 mark in non-conference play.
\n\tBryant is one of the nation’s most inexperienced teams but hopes that its core group of freshmen take the next step in league play.
\n\tDespite the record, the Black and Gold rank second in the league in scoring defense (72.1) and field goal defense (.434).
\n\tAaron Davis III<\/a> and Timofei Rudovskii<\/a> have been two of the league’s premier three-point shooters. Davis is shooting 40 percent, which would rank him second in the league but he does not have enough attempts to qualify.\u00a0
\n\tRudovskii ranks fourth at 37 percent and also ranks 10th in the league in scoring, 14th in rebounding, 17th in assists and fourth in steals.
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