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Men's Hoops: Vermont Earns 20th Win, Tops UMBC 80-49

Details: Created on Sunday, 26 February 2012 05:26; Written by George Commo

Seniors Glass and Bergmann combine for 30 points

Courtesy Vermont Sports Information

BURLINGTON – Senior Matt Glass scored a game-high 18 points and added eight rebounds to lift the Vermont men's basketball team to an 80-49 victory over UMBC in the regular season finale on Saturday afternoon at Patrick Gym. The Catamounts improve to 20-11 overall and 13-3 in America East play with the win, as they now await their opponent for the upcoming conference tournament.

On Senior Day for Glass and Pat Bergmann (12 points), the duo combined for 30 points on 11-for-18 shooting from the floor, as Vermont outscored UMBC 44-22 in the second half. Freshman Four McGlynn added 16 points off the bench, as the Catamounts also used a 49-26 advantage on the boards. The Cats reached 20 wins for the ninth time in the last 11 seasons after not accomplishing the feat in the first 87 years of program history.

Vermont can finish no lower than second in the conference standings with two league games left to be played on Sunday. The Cats can earn the top seed with a Stony Brook loss to Maine tomorrow, or will finish second and play the seventh-seeded Black Bears if the Seawolves win.

“It was good to get back on the winning track tonight and I am really excited that we could do it on Senior Night in honor of Matt and Pat and the great careers they have had here at UVM,” said Vermont head coach John Becker. “I thought we really dominated the glass, which was huge for us. In the first half I thought our defense was just ok but in the second half we started to guard them and held them to 22 points.”

“I am really excited to have another 20-win season and that's a great accomplishment. We have achieved that goal and now it is on to next week and getting to the America East Tournament down in Hartford.”

In the first half the Retrievers (4-24, 3-13 America East) started out 6-for-8 from the floor to take an early 14-10 lead. Bergmann netted eight of Vermont's first 12 on the afternoon, as the Cats used a 10-0 run to take a 20-14 lead with 12:03 remaining in the half. UMBC would cut it to 20-19, but Vermont answered with the next 13 straight, which included three straight 3-pointers from Four McGlynn, Sandro Carissimo and Glass to extend the home team's lead to 33-19.

After starting off hot from the floor, UMBC finished the half making only five of its final 20 attempts. The Retrievers did use an 8-3 spurt over the final 5:35 to trim Vermont's lead to 36-27 at the break. In the first half 10 different Catamounts played and nine scored, led by eight apiece from Bergmann and Glass.

Vermont opened the second half with the first seven points to stretch its lead to 43-27. UMBC would cut it to nine at 45-36 with 13:30 to go, but that would be as close as it would get. Leading 54-42, the Catamounts went on a 12-2 run that made it 66-44 with 5:00 on the clock after a free throw from junior Ben Crenca.

Bergmann finished 5-for-6 from the floor and scored 12 points in 16 minutes of action. Carissimo and sophomore Clancy Rugg each added nine points for Vermont, while sophomore Brian Voelkel earned game-highs for rebounds (10) and assists (six). The Cats limited UMBC to shoot only 29.0 percent in the second half and 33.9 percent for the game, as they have now allowed only 50.5 points per game in their last four league contests.

Brian Neller led UMBC with 15 points on five made 3-pointers, while Ryan Cook added 12. After starting the game 6-for-8 from the floor, the Retrievers went 14-for-51 (27.4 percent) the rest of the way.

Vermont will now travel to the America East Tournament next weekend in West Hartford, Conn. The Catamounts are still waiting to find out their seed and opponent, but will take part in quarterfinal action on Saturday.

NOTES: The Catamount senior class earned its 92^nd career victory on Saturday, which are the most in program history and it marks their fourth straight 20-win season … The 49 rebounds were a season-high for the Cats … Vermont has now won nine straight at home by an average of 18.6 points per game, as it is averaging 78.6 points in those nine wins … The Cats finished a perfect 8-0 at home in conference play for the first time since the 2004-05 season … Vermont is now 18-4 all-time against UMBC and has won the last nine meetings … The Cats have won 11 straight and 14 of their last 15 against teams from Maryland … Of UVM's 20 wins, 14 have been by double figures … Vermont went 13-0 in conference play when leading at the half, but 0-3 when trailing … The Catamounts have won 11 of their last 12 overall … Saturday's game was televised on WCAXtra … Vermont won the first meeting of the season 90-62 in Baltimore on January 22 … Bergmann made his first career start in the game … Bergmann and UMBC's Neller were named the America East Players of the Game ...