BALTIMORE — Vermont secured a 79-69 victory against UMBC on Saturday, with TJ Hurley leading the charge by scoring 23 points. This win allows Vermont to stay just a game behind Bryant in the America East Conference standings, with only one game remaining in the regular season.
Hurley was an all-around contributor for the Catamounts (19-11, 12-3), adding six rebounds to his performance. Sam Alamutu also played a vital role by scoring 12 points while going 5 of 9 from the floor and collecting 11 rebounds. Ileri Ayo-Faleye added to the effort with 11 points, hitting 3 of 11 shots, including 2 of 7 from beyond the arc, and 3 of 6 from the free-throw line. He also grabbed nine rebounds. The victory marked the eighth consecutive win for the Catamounts.
For the Retrievers (13-18, 5-11), Marcus Banks was the standout player, posting 21 points. Marlon Short contributed 16 points and snagged two steals, while Anthony Valentine added eight points along with five assists.
Vermont is set to host Albany on Tuesday for their final regular-season game. Meanwhile, UMBC has ended its regular-season play and will be entering the conference tournament as the No. 8 seed.
