Burlington, Vt.-- Sophomore guard R.J. Eytle-Rock (London, England) netted a career-high 31 points in a tough 81-74 loss to top-seeded Vermont in the America East Playoffs Semifinals. Eytle-Rock led a trio of Retrievers in double figures. UMBC had cut a second-half deficit to just one, but Vermont made a late run to pull away late. 

UMBC falls to 16-17 while Vermont improves to 26-7 on the year. 

Eytle-Rock led all scorers with 31 points on 9-18 shooting, going 4-8 from three and 9-9 from the foul line. Brandon Horvath (West River, Md./Southern) added 19 points and eight rebounds while L.J. Owens (Annapolis, Md./Severn School/William & Mary) added 13. 

Everett Duncan led the Catamounts with 26 points with Stef Smith adding 20 and Anthony Lamb scoring 19. 

Trailing by five at the break, UMBC found themselves in a double-digit hole after Vermont rattled off a 7-2 run to open the half, forcing a quick UMBC timeout. However, the Retrievers responded cutting the deficit to just one after a three from Owens and a Ricky Council II (Durham, N.C.) free throw late in the half. 

The Catamounts would continue to pull away late, but another UMBC run thanks to a three and driving layup from Eytle-Rock cut the deficit to three. However, it would not be enough as Vermont made free throws late to seal an 81-74 victory on Tuesday.

UMBC shot 44 percent from the floor, going 35 percent from three in the loss. Vermont shot 60 percent in the second half and 53 percent for the game, scoring 40 points in the paint. 

The Retrievers jumped out to an early lead thanks to seven quick points from Horvath, including a big and one to give UMBC a lead at the under 16 timeout.  

Both teams went back and forth the entire half with seven lead changes and six ties over the first 20 minutes. 

Eytle-Rock ended the half scoring the last eight points for the Retrievers as they trailed 39-34 at the half. 

Eytle-Rock led the way in the first half with 15 points, going 3-4 from three. Horvath added 12 points in the half.