BURLINGTON, Vt. – That winning feeling never gets old! The Vermont Catamounts are America East men’s basketball champions once again after defeating UMass Lowell, 66-61, in the 2024 Jersey Mike’s America East men’s basketball championship game on Saturday morning at a sold-out Patrick Gym.
After trailing at halftime, top-seeded Vermont controlled the second half to down second-seeded UMass Lowell on its way to winning its third-straight conference crown, fifth in the last six seasons and 11th since 2003.
Shamir Bogues was named the Reggie Lewis Most Outstanding Player of the tournament after providing a team-high 15 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists. He averaged 14.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 steals and 3.0 assists over UVM’s three games.
Bogues was joined on the All-Championship Team by teammates Ileri Ayo-Faleye and TJ Long, as well as UMass Lowell’s Quinton Mincey and Cam Morris III.
UMass Lowell’s Anthony Blunt, a senior with a 3.72 GPA majoring in liberal arts – digital media, was the men’s basketball Elite 18 honoree for having the highest GPA among champion game participants.
Winners of 10 straight and 19 of its last 20 games, Vermont will learn its postseason draw during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday at 6 p.m. on CBS.
How it Happened
- Vermont came out hot out of the gate, scoring 13 of the game’s first 19 points. Bogues’ lay up 4:07 in gave the home team a 13-6 lead.
- After Vermont grew its lead to 16-7, UMass Lowell used an 13-3 run to grab its first lead on Morris III’s putback with 7:20 left to make it 20-19 River Hawks.
- Jace Roquemore’s layup with 6:23 left was Vermont’s first field goal in a 5:37 stretch.
- The two teams stayed neck and neck the rest of the first half. Morris, who had 13 first-half points, scored back-to-back buckets in the final minute to provide Lowell a 32-29 lead going into the break.
- The River Hawks grew their lead to four but TJ Long hit a three with 16:00 left and then canned a floater at the 13:06 mark to give the Cats back the lead.
- Long continued his strong second half, giving UVM a 47-43 lead with 10:25 left on a triple.
- From there, Vermont used a 13-4 run to grow a 10-point lead, its largest of the game to that point.
- A pair of free throws from Ayinde Hikim and a three-pointer off a UVM turnover by Brayden O’Connor cut the UVM lead to five with 3:29 remaining.
- The Catamounts closed it out from there to win its third-straight title.
Inside the Numbers
- In an evenly played game, the turnover margin made a difference. Vermont forced 14 UMass Lowell miscues while committing only six. UVM scored 13 points off turnovers.
- UMass Lowell won the rebounding advantage, 40-32.
- Vermont held UMass Lowell to a season-low 61 points on 39.1 percent shooting and just three treys. The River Hawks came into the game averaging a league-best 80.6 points per game.
- Bogues led four Catamounts in double figures. TJ Long scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half. Aaron Deloney added 12 and Nick Fiorillo had 11.
- Morris III led UMass Lowell with a game-high 17 points and added 10 boards for a double-double. O’Connor had 14 and Ayinde Hikim had 11.
The History
- The title is Vermont’s 11th all-time, all since 2003. It’s their third straight and fifth in six years. The 11 crowns is the most in league history.
- The Catamounts improved to 11-6 all-time in title games while the River Hawks fell to 0-3.
- Home teams are now 33-7 all-time in America East championship games.
- Vermont is the 27th top seed to win the America East Tournament.
- John Becker is the first coach to win seven America East titles.
For full playoff coverage, including box scores, highlights, photos and more, visit #AEPlayoffs Central
ABOUT AMERICA EAST
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference its social media channels, @AmericaEast.
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