Catamounts Get 8th Straight Win

Vermont downed UMBC 80-67 Wednesday night.

Brandon Bald and Brian Voelkel each had 19 points for the Catamounts, who improved to 11-2 in America East play with the win. The Cats improved to 20-5 overall, the first time they have started a season with a record like that since the 2004-2005 season. I think they had a pretty good team that year. Just ask Gerry McNamara.

The 67 points UMBC scored were the most Vermont has given up since losing to Maine at home (when Maine scored 72 points). The Cats had held their opponents to the following point totals over the previous seven games: 53, 52, 51, 54, 49, 47, 42. So needless to say, the 67 points put up by the Retrievers were somewhat surprising.

In fact, UMBC outscored Vermont 44-35 in the second half; Vermont held a 45-23 lead at the half. This was the first time in recent memory that Vermont played a better first half than second half. But you simply gotta love getting W's.

UVM went back to pounding the glass -- they out-rebounded UMBC 41-30. Voelkel had 10 of those, while Evan Fjeld and Matt Glass pulled down 7 boards.

All five UVM starters were in double figures: Bald and Voelkel with 19, Fjeld with 11, Glass with 13, and Sandro Carissimo with 10. Eight players checked into the game off the bench for UVM, and this happened early and often. Josh Elbaum and Garrett Kissel checked into the game within the first five minutes. Simeon Marsalis checked into the game seemingly at the first possible opportunity. Coach Lonergan is reinforcing the fact that this team is at least ten players deep, but possibly even eleven or twelve players can expect minutes for this Catamount squad down the stretch.

One more down, three conference games to go.