Vermont University

Hot-Shooting UMBC Tops Catamounts In Men’s Hoop

February 16th, 2006

With a career-high 24 points, Jerrell Dinkins led five players in double figures as UMBC topped Vermont, 86-73, in America East men’s basketball at RAC Arena Saturday afternoon.The Catamounts (10-12, 6-6 America East) came into the game as the conference leader in field goal percentage defense (39.8%) but saw the Retrievers (9-14, 5-7), who are now 8-3 at home, shoot a blistering 65% in the first half and 55% for the game. UVM had allowed only two opponents in 21 games to shoot 50% or better prior to UMBC’s effort Saturday. The 87 points also were the most allowed this season by Vermont.

Brian Hodges had 13 and Dinkins 11 points, and the Retrievers forced 10 Vermont turnovers to take a 48-30 lead at the break. Midway through the second half, UMBC used a 9-0 run to make the margin 24 points, 65-41, with just under 12 minutes to play. UVM would claw back and make a late charge using a 11-2 run of its own to cut the deficit to 10, 81-71, but less than a minute remained in the contest.

“We knew UMBC would be much better at home than on the road,” said Vermont coach Mike Lonergan. “Our defense didn’t have any energy in the first half and then we played with a little more intensity in the second to make a run at them. It’s real hard to come back from 18 points down at halftime.”

Chris Holm (Henderson, Nevada) scored 13 points in the second half on six-for-eight shooting to pace the Vermont comeback bid. Holm finished with a team-high 24 to equal his career-high set earlier this season at Maine. Martin Klimes (Prague, Czech Republic) added 12 points, with nine in the second stanza, while Josh Duell (Scotia, N.Y.) and Mike Trimboli (Norwalk, Conn.) each scored 11.

The Catamounts shot 44% from the floor but hit only seven-of-21 three-point attempts. Led by Holm’s seven boards, Vermont outrebounded UMBC, 36-33.

In addition to Dinkins, who went 10-for-16 from the floor and had a game-high eight rebounds, Hodges (3-for-6 3-pt FGs) and John Zito each talled 16. UMBC’s starting backcourt of Jay Greene and Chris Pugh each added 13 points as the Retrievers won for the first time in seven tries against Vermont. The Catamounts had won the first meeting of the season, 68-53, back on January 8.

Vermont returns home to host Maine Wednesday at 7:00pm in a game televised on NESN (Radio: WXZO 96.7 FM, WEAV 960 AM and WCVR 102.1 FM; Internet: www.sportsjuice.com). General admission tickets are available for all Vermont regular season home games at the UVM Athletic  The NCAA mascot, J.J. Jumper, will appear at the Maine game and fans can sample free ice cream by Ben and Jerry’s at halftime.

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized