NCAA Basketball: Daum, Hofstra top mid-major performers of the week

Best Mid-Major Matchup(s) – The America East

The America East conference provided some excitement this week.

First, last year’s Tournament darlings UMBC upset Vermont 74-61 in their first matchup since last season’s epic conference title game, spoiling the Catamounts’ history-making night ( the Duncan brothers became just the second trio of brothers ever to start together) by giving Vermont its first America East loss of the season.

Stony Brook’s 67-66 overtime win at Albany on the same night set up a battle between the America East’s top two teams…

…which ended up being a giant letdown as Vermont cruised to a 73-52 win on the road in Anthony Lamb’s return from injury.

Elsewhere, Max Hazzard hit the game-winner to lead UC Irvine on the road at Hawaii, keeping the Anteaters atop the Big West standings.

Belmont beat Murray State handedly in a hyped matchup that also ended up being a letdown thanks to Ja Morant tweaking his ankle less than two minutes into the contest. He returned to the game, but was hobbled.

The SoCon remained crazy as Wofford survived a scare at Samford to remain unbeaten in conference play thanks to a buzzer beater in overtime from Storm Murphy (what a name!) and 31 from Fletcher Magee. Samford then rallied from 10-down in the final five minutes to win at Furman two days later.

Buffalo held strong for a 88-79 win on the road at a solid Kent State squad, as did Utah State for a two-point win at a not-as-strong New Mexico.

Texas State won at Georgia State 81-68, but then lost to Georgia Southern by 16, making the top of the Sun Belt chaotic.

The top of the A10 is similarly messy after Davidson beating Saint Louis and VCU beating Duquesne.

Montana won 75-68 vs Weber State. The two are now tied for second in the Big Sky behind Northern Colorado.

Finally, in the WCC, BYU beat Saint Mary’s 71-66 and San Diego upset San Francisco 67-63, thus leaving the Dons and Cougars tied for second and severely hurting SFU’s chances at an at-large bid.