BALTIMORE - For the first time since 2018, the UMBC Retrievers are going dancing! UMBC closed out the game on a monster run, outscoring Vermont 28-10 over the final 7:21 to clinch its third America East title with a 74-59 victory on Saturday afternoon inside a sold-out Chesapeake Arena.
DJ Armstrong Jr., the America East Tournament Most Outstanding Player, scored a career high 33 points on 9-11 shooting, including 20 second-half points to push the Retrievers to victory. Armstong Jr.'s 33 points were the most scored by a player in the America East Championship Game since Jameel Warney scored 43 for Stony Brook in an 80-74 victory over Vermont in 2016.
Armstrong Jr.'s hot run for the Retrievers started late in the first half as he scored eight points in the final 3:04, including a jumper just before the shot clock sounded with five seconds left in the half to send UMBC into the locker room with a 30-28 lead.
The Retrievers (24-8) quickly built a seven-point lead in the second half, getting a triple from Armstrong Jr. and a pair of free throws from
Ace Valentine at the 16:57 mark to put UMBC ahead 37-30. The lead reached eight at the 15:25 mark as
Josh Odunowo finished inside to make it 41-33 Retrievers.
The Catamounts (22-12) would use a 12-3 run to take their first lead of the second half with 9:19 on the clock as TJ Hurley finished at the rim, but
Caden Diggs responded to put UMBC back ahead by one with 8:39 to play. Vermont would retake the lead and push it to three on a dunk from Noah Barnett, but Armstrong Jr. drilled a triple to tie the contest with 6:04 to play, and the Retrievers didn't let up from there.
A Valentine jumper, plus the foul, put the Retrievers back ahead for good with 5:22 to play. Armstrong Jr. gave UMBC a 61-54 advantage with 2:26 on the clock as he connected on his fifth three of the game, drawing a foul in the process to send the packed house into a frenzy. After converting on the four-point play, he lined it up from distance again, pushing UMBC ahead by eight as the clock read 1:51.
The Retrievers, who have won a program record 12 straight games, were a perfect 10-10 from the charity stripe over the final 1:29 to close out the championship.
Valentine chipped in with 13 points, four assists, and three rebounds in the victory with Jose Tanchyn and Odunowo combining for 15 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks inside for UMBC. America East Sixth Man of the Year
Caden Diggs added seven points, six rebounds, and two steals in 26 minutes off the bench.
Valentine and Tanchyn were both named to the All-Tournament Team.
