Vermont men's basketball outlasts UMass Lowell in OT in America East title-game rematch
The University of Vermont men's basketball team let a five-point lead slip away against UMass Lowell in the final 90 seconds of regulation.
The Catamounts made amends in the extra period.
TJ Long's game-breaking 3-pointer with 43 seconds to go propelled Vermont to a 72-65 overtime victory over the River Hawks in Thursday night's America East Conference championship-game rematch in front of 957 at Costello Athletic Center.
Winners of six in a row, the Catamounts (15-5, 5-0) outscored Lowell 12-5 in OT, to push their nation-leading conference winning streak to 20 games.
Shamir Bogues sank 9 of 16 field-goal attempts to score 19 points while also grabbing eight rebounds, handing out four assists and collecting three steals to pace the Catamounts, who shot 40.7% from the floor.
Ileri Ayo-Faleye (15 points, 10 rebounds, five boards), Aaron Deloney (12 points), TJ Hurley (10 points) and Nick Fiorillo (six points, six assists, four steals) aided Vermont, which handed Lowell its first loss at Costello in 21 games.
Long had been 0 of 7 on his field-goal tries (and 0 of 4 on 3s) prior to his game-winning triple in the final minute of extra time. And Ayo-Faleye set career-highs in points, rebounds and blocks in his first double-double.
"Great performance by our guys," UVM coach John Becker said in a statement. "Just a gutsy performance by our guys tonight, in a really hostile environment, against a really good team in UMass Lowell."
For Lowell (14-5, 5-1), Quinton Mincey came off the bench to strike for a game-high 20 points, while Brayden O'Connor tossed in 16 points and Cam Morris added a dozen points.
The Catamounts, who defeated Lowell in last year's America East final for the second of back-to-back tournament crowns, built a 60-55 advantage with 1:30 to play before the River Hawks fought back.
Max Brooks (nine points, eight boards) got a shot to fall in the lane with 16 seconds to force the OT.
In the five-minute extra period, Hurley and O'Connor traded 3-pointers before Long rose for his big shot on the wing in front of the Catamount bench to make it a 68-65 contest.
Then Bogues hauled down a defensive board following a missed Brooks 3-pointer and Ayo-Faleye went 4-for-4 at the line in the final seconds to seal the Vermont triumph.
The Catamounts continue their road swing Saturday afternoon at Bryant.
Olson powers Vermont women's basketball past UMass Lowell
Vermont leaders: Anna Olson 20 points, 10 rebounds. Emma Utterback 17 points, 6 assists. Keira Hanson 11 points. Delaney Richason 8 points. Bella Vito 8 rebounds, 4 assists.
Lowell leaders: Sydney Watkins 16 points. Cire Worley 10 points. Rayne Durant 9 points, 5 rebounds.
More: UVM men's, women's basketball teams roll past Binghamton by double digits
Note: In their annual Catamount Classroom game (2,555 in attendance), the Catamounts (13-7, 5-1) posted their fourth straight victory behind Olson's third double-double of the season and a team shooting percentage of 49% (24 of 49). Vermont also held Lowell to 40% from the floor and led wire to wire.
Turning point: Olson banked in a short jumper and Utterback scored four straight points to push the Catamounts to a 48-35 lead in the fourth quarter. Then after a Lowell run cut the Vermont lead to four with 3:57 to go, Olson had a layup and Hanson drained her third 3-pointer of the game to seal the win.
Vermont coach Alisa Kresge on win (via news release): "The energy that our youth brings is outstanding. It's incredible and we just love their energy, it's great support to our players."
Up next: Saturday at home vs. Bryant
Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont basketball: Catamount teams sweep UMass-Lowell
