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News Release

Men's Basketball Defeats Vermont, 73-64, in America East Semifinals; Will Host Title Game vs. Hartford Next Saturday

3/9/2008

  • Box Score

    Vestal, N.Y.—The UMBC men’s basketball team outscored perennial league power Vermont, 18-4 in the final 4:15 of the game and earned a 73-64 victory in the semifinals of the America East Conference tournament. The Retrievers advance to the title game, which they will host at noon before a national television audience on Saturday, March 15. UMBC's opponent will be Hartford, which earned a title game appearance with a semifinal win over Boston University.

     

    It is UMBC’s first-ever appearance in a league title game in 22 years at the NCAA Division I level. The Retrievers earned their 23rd victory (23-8) of the season, tying the all-time (41 years) school record.

     

    Tickets will soon be available to purchase online via www.umbcretrievers.com for Saturday’s game.

     

    Senior guard Ray Barbosa (Allentown, Pa.) led all scorers with 29 points, hitting a school and conference tournament record 15 of 15 from free throw line. Junior forward Darryl Proctor (District Heights, Md.) added 17 points and four steals and senior post Cavell Johnson (Fort Washington, Md.) scored 12 points and added a team-best five rebounds.

     

    There were several huge swings in the second half of the game. Trailing, 34-33 at intermission, UMBC opened the second half on a 11-2 surge as Barbosa hit seven free throws in that stretch to give the top seeded-team a 44-36 lead with16:51 remaining.

    But the Catamounts, who had appeared in five consecutive conference title games, roared back with a 18-4 run and led 54-48 with 9:35 to play.

     

    Vermont still led, 60-55 after a Mike Trimboli jumper with 5:00 remaining, but the Catamounts would come up empty on the next six possessions and UMBC took full advantage and scored the next 12 points of the game. Proctor’s two free throws with 3:21 to play gave UMBC the lead for good at 62-60. UMBC did not allow any second chance opportunities down the stretch and Johnson, Barbosa, and sophomore wing Matt Spadafora (Richboro, Pa.) combined to hit 13 of 14 free throw attempts to built the lead to 73-62 with 21 seconds remaining.

     

    UMBC shot just 32.8 percent from the floor, but continued to value the ball (seven turnovers) and forced 21 Catamount miscues.

     

    Trimboli led the Catamounts with 21 points.

     

    UMBC was previously 0-8 in Division I conference semifinal contests.