SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The seventh-seeded Bryant men's basketball team faces second-seeded Vermont in the quarterfinal round of the 2026 Air Force Reserve America East Playoffs on Saturday afternoon in Burlington. Tip is set for 2:00 p.m.

The winner of Saturday's quarterfinal will advance to the semifinals on Tuesday night. The 2026 America East Championship is scheduled for Saturday, March 14 at 11:00 a.m.

The Particulars
Opponent: Vermont
Location: Patrick Gymnasium (Burlington, Vt.)
Date and Time: Saturday, Mar. 7 - 2:02 PM EST 
Live Stats: Sidearm
Watch: ESPN+
Game Notes: Bryant 
Social Media: Facebook | X | Instagram | #AEMBB

THE SERIES

• Bryant is 2-8 all-time against Vermont, including a 1-7 record since joining the America East.
• The Bulldogs' lone win since joining the league came last January at the Chace.
• Bryant is winless in five trips to Patrick Gymnasium.

AIR FORCE RESERVE AMERICA EAST MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS

• UMBC is the top seed in this year's playoffs after posting a 14-2 conference record. The Retrievers host eighth-seeded New Hampshire on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
• Second-seeded Vermont hosts seventh-seeded Bryant in the first playoff meeting between the two programs.
• Third-seeded NJIT hosts its first playoff game since joining the America East as it welcomes sixth-seeded Maine on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
• Fourth-seeded UMass Lowell welcomes fifth-seeded UAlbany on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

BRYANT POSTSEASON HISTORY

• Bryant has qualified for the conference tournament for the 12th time and is 9-9 overall. The Bulldogs have advanced to the championship game in three of the last five conference tournaments.
• The Bulldogs have reached the championship game in 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2024-25. Bryant won conference titles in 2021-22 (NEC) and 2024-25 (AE).
• This will mark the first time that Bryant will serve as the No. 7 seed.
• Bryant is 9-3 at home in the postseason but is winless in six (0-6) playoff road games.

THIS YEAR VS VERMONT

• Bryant fell to Vermont, 62-52, at the Chace before dropping a 90-63 decision in Burlington.
• At home, the Bulldogs were just 3-of-22 from the field in the first half and trailed 30-17 at the break. Bryant shot 52 percent from the field in the second half but late threes from TJ Hurley and Gus Yalden put the game away for Vermont.
• In Burlington, Vermont outscored the Bulldogs 29-10 in the first eight minutes of the second half to open what was a 12-point edge. The Catamounts shot 58 percent from the field.
• Ty Tabales averaged 15.5 ppg in two outings vs Vermont, including a 21-point effort in Burlington. Bryant shot just 36 percent from the field and 25 percent (13-of-52) from three in the two games.
• Hurley (22.5) and Yalden (20.5) both averaged 20+ ppg for Vermont. Yalden scored 27 points in Vermont's win in Burlington.

HARVEY TIME

• Keegan Harvey has enjoyed an incredible stretch for the Bulldogs and enters Tuesday averaging 13.1 ppg and 5.5 rpg in America East play.
• He has produced three 20-point games in league play and has scored in double figures in 11 of his last 12 games.
• Harvey ranks second in the league with a .579 field goal percentage and is shooting 80 percent from the line.

POSTSEASON HONORS

• Bryant had three players earn postseason honors on Friday as Timofei Rudovskii and Ty Tabales were named to the all-rookie team and Keegan Harvey earned all-academic honors.
• Rudovskii and Tabales are the first Bulldogs to earn all-rookie honors since joining the America East.
• Harvey joins Doug Edert as the only players to earn all-academic honors since joing the America East.

FIVE MORE THINGS TO KNOW

• Timofei Rudovskii posted his 24th double-digit scoring effort on Tuesday, the most by a freshmen in a single season in DI program history. Rudovskii also has five 20-point games, one shy of Francis' single-season freshmen record. 
• Aaron Davis III is averaging 12.2 ppg in America East play and has made 3+ 3pFG in 11 of his last 20 games. Davis ranks sixth in the AE with 2.2 3pFG per game.
• Ty Tabales finished the regular season with a freshmen-best 3.4 apg in league play. He recorded six assists on Tuesday and has seven games with 6+ assists on the year.
• Ashley Sims II closed the year by going 31-of-65 (48 percent) from the field over his last 10 games. He posted three double-digit scoring efforts and also added 5.5 rpg.
• Bryant's last playoff road win came on Feb. 27, 2006 at UMass Lowell in the quarterfinals of the NE-10 Tournament. 

• Vermont postsed a 20-11 record during the regular season, securing its 17th-straight 20-win season (does not include COVID 2020-21 season).
• The Catamounts ranked third in the league in scoring (70.9) and second in scoring defense (64.4). Vermont held opponents to a league-best .409 shooting percentage.
• Gus Yalden leads Vermont with 16.8 ppg and 5.9 rpg. TJ Hurley averages 14.7 ppg and averaged a league-best 2.6 3pFG in AE games. He shoots 38 percent from three.
• Vermont has won 11 America East Tournament Championships