As the men’s basketball America East tournament games are set to begin March 7 in Albany, N.Y., UVM extended their winning streak to nine games as the Cats toppled Stony Brook University 69-53. It was a memorable senior night for the catamounts as they defeated conference rival Stony Brook in front of a maximum capacity crowd. Before tip-off, UVM seniors were recognized as they were invited to join their families out on the court before watching their loved-one play their last regular season game at Patrick Gymnasium. Many of the seniors on the team have played together since their first-year at the university, and some even have ties going back before attending UVM. Forward Clancy Rugg played along side guard Josh Elbaum for one season at Northfield Mount Hermon. Forward Brian Voelkel played at Iona Prep in New Rochelle, N.Y. with teammate Sandro Carissimo. Carissimo started 15 games as a first-year, while Voelkel came to UVM and had an instant impact on the team. According to UVM athletics, Voelkel led the America East in rebounding, and finished second in assists and steals, while starting all 32 games that season. Carissmo and Voelkel were able to make history in their senior season as both players reached career milestones. Carissmo hit his 1,000-point in a game verse Albany Feb. 1. In that same game, Voelkel became the all-time assist leader at Vermont, just eleven days after he became the all-time leader in rebound at UVM. The catamounts clinched their sixth conference title and improved to 20-9 on the season as they pushed passed the Sea wolves to capture the No. 1 seed going into the America East tournament. The Catamounts came out of the pregame “Senior Ceremony” with a lot of energy and got off to a fast start according to UVM athletics. The cats hit seven of their first nine shots of the game, and were up by 15 points early in the first half.  Senior forward Luke Apfeld knocked down a 3-point shot, making him the third catamount to reach the 1,000-point milestone this season.  He became the 33rd in UVM basketball history to reach this milestone according to UVM athletics. With only one regular season game remaining for the senior class before the America East Tournament, the cats travel to Vestal, N.Y., to take on the Binghamton University Bearcats March, 2.