Comparing America East point guards using stats usually turns out to be a futile endeavor. Everything’s subjective.

Mike Trimboli scores more points. Mike Gordon has bigger games. Trimboli has more assists, Gordon has fewer turnovers. Trimboli’s team has the better record, Gordon does more with less.

You have to throw out the stats.

Point guards are like quarterbacks. The best ones win at any cost, regardless of what the stat sheet says. In the America East, this is even truer, the best point guards will be defined by one stat: wins.

Mike Gordon versus Mike Trimboli is a debate that fans of the America East will always raise, because regardless of whether they should be compared, these two are intrinsically linked together.

Flashback to March 5, 2006, the America East semifinals at the Events Center. The second-seeded Bearcats led by as many as 15, but Vermont walked off victorious.

It was also after that game where then-BU head coach Al Walker said, “This is Mike’s team next year. Period.”

That’s right, the day where Mike Gordon became the face of Binghamton basketball, was the same date that Mike Trimboli cemented his role as the face of Vermont.

Neither player was the story of the game. Binghamton said farewell to Andre Heard and dealt with an injury to Sebastian Hermenier, while Vermont rode Martin Klimes and Kyle Cieplicki to victory. But the result signified what direction this rivalry would go in.

During America East play this season, Gordon has scored more points while Trimboli has taken a backseat. Trimboli has the conference’s leading scorer, Marques Blakely, in his front court, Gordon does not.

That’s why Gordon has more points, that’s why Trimboli has more assists.

Before either one became the man, they faced-off twice in the 2006 regular season. It was Gordon’s sophomore year and Trimboli’s freshman year. The players were growing into their roles. Everyone knew that someday these teams would rely on them, but at the time each had safety nets. And when it wasn’t all about them, Gordon’s Bearcats won twice.

Then in the final stand for Heard, Hermenier and Klimes, two point guards showed what they would be known for. Trimboli drained six free-throws down the stretch and walked off the court with outstretched arms. Gordon went home and prepared for next season.

The record since then? 3-0 for Trimboli-led teams.

Vermont fell to Albany in the past two America East Championships. That’s why no one can say Trimboli is better than former Albany star Jamar Wilson. When it came down to it, Trimboli didn’t have it when it was all on the line against UA.

Mike Gordon beat Hartford three times with shocking last second plays. He scored 31 points and became a one-man wrecking crew against Albany. And he bounced an inbounds pass off an opponent’s back to beat Stony Brook.

In America East lore, Gordon’s accomplishments have become mythical. But that doesn’t change the fact that none of his greatest moments come against Vermont or Trimboli.

Gordon has SportsCenter and the title “Magic Mike,” but I’m sure he would trade those in a second for what Mike Trimboli has: two trips to the America East Championship.