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Catamounts Roll, Top UMBC in Men's Hoops 90-62

Details: Created on Monday, 23 January 2012 01:07; Written by George Commo

Six Catamounts netted double figures in America East Win

Courtesy Vermont Sports Information

BALTIMORE, MD. – Six Catamounts netted double figures as the University of Vermont men's basketball team cruised to a 90-62 victory over UMBC on the road on Sunday afternoon. Freshman Four McGlynn led the Cats with 15 points as they improve to 12-10 overall and 6-2 in America East action with the victory.

The Catamounts have won six of their last seven games overall and the win was the eighth straight against the Retrievers. Vermont set new season highs in the game for points, field goal percentage (56.9) and assists (25). The Catamounts scored 51 points in the second half and led by as many as 29. It also marked the largest margin of victory since Vermont defeated the same Retriever team 85-48 on January 15 of last season.

Sophomore Clancy Rugg added 13, while Luke Apfeld, Matt Glass and Pat Bergmann each netted 12, and Brendan Bald chipped in with 11. Vermont also held a 41-23 rebounding margin. Brian Voelkel also added a game-high 10 assists and seven rebounds.

“Great road win tonight down here in Baltimore. League wins are always difficult to get and I thought our guys came out focused and ready to go from the jump,” said Vermont head coach John Becker. “Great team effort, six guys in double figures and Brian with 10 assists and seven rebounds. We are really happy with this win and are looking forward to the second half of league play.”

In the first half UMBC's Chase Plummer made a layup that tied the score at 12-12 with 14:00 minutes left and the Catamounts then rattled off the next 16 straight points to take the lead for good. Vermont held the Retrievers without a point for a stretch of 7:16 during the run, as it would lead by as many as 18 in the half at 38-20 after a dunk from Glass with 3:21 to go.

The Catamounts only scored one point over the final 3:20 but still took a 39-23 lead into halftime. Rugg led all scorers at the break with eight points, as Vermont shot 51.6 percent from the floor and owned the glass with a 26-11 advantage. All 10 Cats that played in the first half each scored.

In the second half UMBC (3-16, 2-5 America East) used a 13-4 run to cut it to 51-41 Vermont with 12:16 remaining, but the Catamounts answered with the next eight straight to hold off any Retriever comeback attempt. Bergmann started the run with a 3-point play, followed by a 3-pointer from Glass and a layup by Apfeld.

In the second half Vermont shot 63 percent (17-for-27) from the floor, 11-for-11 from the line and 6-for-8 from 3-point range. Plummer led UMBC with a game-high 20 points and nine rebounds, while Brian Neller added 13 points.

Vermont returns to action on Sunday when it hosts New Hampshire at a new start time of 12 p.m. in a game that will be televised on the CBS Sports Network. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at www.UVMathletics.com.

NOTES: Vermont has won 10 straight and 13 of its last 14 against teams from Maryland … The Cats improve to 17-4 all-time against UMBC … Vermont has had at least four players in double figures in each of the last three games … Voelkel was one shy of matching his career-high of 11 assists, which he handed out earlier this season in a win at Towson … UVM's highs this season going into the game were 84 points against Marist, 52.8 percent vs. Binghamton and 18 assists in the season opener at South Florida … All 12 Catamounts played in the game and 11 scored … The Catamounts have now played each of teams in the America East once this season … Glass has reached double figures in scoring in each of the last seven games … Voelkel and UMBC's Chase Plummer were named the America East Players of the Game … Vermonters Glass, Bergmann and Rugg were featured in today's Burlington Free Press, click here to read the story.