| Follow @UVMmbb
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Hector Harold scored a game-high 14 points and
Ethan O'Day added 12 points to lead the No. 2-seeded Vermont Catamounts to a 66-39 win over No. 7 UMBC in the quarterfinal round of the America East Playoffs at Patrick Gymnasium.
Vermont (18-12) will host No. 3 Stony Brook on Sunday (March 8) in the semifinal round. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Patrick Gymnasium. The Catamounts move onto the semifinal round for the 13th time in 14 years. UMBC closes out its season with a 4-26 mark.
RELATED LINKS
Box Score (.pdf)
CatamounTV Highlights
CatamounTV Postgame Reaction
Photo GalleryThe Catamounts held the Retrievers to 16 first half points and 39 points is the fourth fewest points allowed in an America East playoff game. Vermont entered the matchup ranked 13th in the country in scoring defense (57.6) and 11th in field goal percentage (38.2). The Catamounts limited UMBC to 32.7 percent from the field on the night.
Vermont led by three, 11-8, at the 12:12 mark of the first half, but a layup by O'Day sparked a 19-8 run over the next 9:29 as the Catamounts opened up an 18 point advantage on the Retrievers. Harold scored 11 of his 14 points in the spurt, including a trio of 3-pointers.
UVM went into the locker room with a 32-16 lead. The 16 points were the second fewest Vermont allowed this season. The Catamounts held Bryant to 14 first-half points earlier this year.
The Catamounts continued to apply the pressure on defense in the second stanza, limiting UMBC to six points through the first 13 minutes of the second half.
Vermont's lead would grow to 32 with 7:33 remaining in the game and the Catamounts cruised to the win.
Will Darley led the Retrievers with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Cody Joyce added 10 points and seven boards.
Sunday's semifinal game can be heard on ESPN 101.3 FM (online:
1013espn.com) and can be seen online via
ESPN3.com.
NOTES: John Becker improved to 7-2 in America East postseason games … The Catamounts improved to 12-1 in the quarterfinal round and 25-7 overall since 2003 … UVM also picked up its 32 America East tournament win, the most among the 2015 tournament field … Vermont is 15-2 as the No. 2 seed and 6-1 against No. 7 seeds ... In three game versus UMBC this season,
Ethan O'Day shot 77.7 percent from the floor (21-27) and averaged 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds.
AMERICA EAST MEN'S BASKETBALL SEMIFINAL TICKET INFORMATION The University of Vermont will host Stony Brook in an America East Men's Basketball Semifinal Game on Sunday, March 8. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. at Patrick Gymnasium
RESERVED SEAT SEASON TICKET HOLDERS AND SPONSORS:Vermont reserved seat season ticket holders who chose not to pre-order their seats can purchase the seats they held during the regular season on
Thursday (March 5). Tickets will be held in the season ticket holders name until close of business on Thursday. The UVM Athletic Ticket Office in Patrick Gymnasium will be open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Thursday. Tickets need to be picked up in person. If you are unable to pick up your tickets in person and would like someone else to pick up for you, please notify the ticket office in advance via email at
athletic.tickets@uvm.edu. Additional tickets will not be available for purchase during this period.
**If seats were pre-ordered you will receive a confirmation email. Tickets can be picked up during ticket office hours or at will call before the game. VICTORY CLUB MEMBERS: Victory Club members at the Catamount level ($1000+) and above can request tickets
Thursday (March 5) by calling the Victory Club office at 802-656-0956 or emailing
victory.club@uvm.edu. All requests will be filled based on established Victory Club priority and availability.
UVM STUDENTS: A limited number of FREE student tickets will be made available beginning on
Thursday (March 5) at 9 a.m. at the UVM Athletic Ticket Office in Patrick Gymnasium. Tickets are limited to one (1) ticket per UVM ID, students must present their own UVM ID at the ticket window, no other ID's will be accepted.
UVM FACULTY/STAFF: Faculty/Staff with valid UVM ID (or spouse with valid UVM spouse ID) may purchase up to four (4) tickets on
Thursday (March 5) in person only at the UVM Athletic Ticket Office in Patrick Gymnasium. Tickets are for personal use only.
GENERAL PUBLIC: Public sale will begin on
Friday (March 6) in person at the UVM Athletic Ticket Office in Patrick Gymnasium or online at
UVMathletics.com. Limit of four (4) tickets per person. Ticket office hours will be 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
TICKET PRICES (ALL SEATS ARE RESERVED):$15 – reserved seats
Free - UVM students