BALTIMORE – Visiting Vermont shot over the 70 percent mark for much of the game and defeated UMBC, 99-54, at the RAC Arena.

Sophomore guard Jairus Lyles (Silver Spring, Md./DeMatha) scored 15 of his team-high 19 points in the first half.

A Lyles three-point play tied the game at 9-all in the early going, but Vermont's first half misses were few and far between. The Catamounts made 21 or their first 28 shots from the floor and UMBC could not keep pace. UVM built a 55-23 advantage before Jairus Lyles hit a free throw and buried a trey at the buzzer to trim the deficit to 55-27 at the half.

The Catamounts (17-12, 9-5 AE) did not cool off after the break, hitting six of their first seven, thus putting the game away.

Vermont converted 38-of-55 for the game and 9 of 18 from behind the arc. Catamount sophomore guard Cam Ward made all six of his attempts from behind the arc and led the visitors with 24 points.

UMBC (6-23, 2-12 AE) plays its final home game of the season on Wednesday, Feb. 24 when they host Binghamton. The Retrievers will honor senior Cody Joyce (Churchton, Md./Southern) in pregame ceremonies, which will begin at 6:55 p.m.