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BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Vermont Catamounts made 16 3-pointers and shot 76.2 percent from 3-point range to roll past UMass Lowell, 96-53, and clinch a home game in the quarterfinal round of the America East Men's Basketball Playoffs.
Vermont has won four straight and five of its last six. The Catamounts improve to 10-2 in America East (second place) and 15-10 overall. UMass Lowell falls to 4-8 in the league and 10-15 on the year.
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Photo GalleryThe Catamounts, who came back from a 17-point second half deficit by shooting 72.7 percent from the field to post a win at Stony Brook on Saturday, went 22-for-26 from the field in the first half against the River Hawks, including an 11-for-13 performance from beyond the arc.
Vermont, which made its first eight 3-pointers to start the game, led 29-6 at the 11:11 mark of the first half. UVM's lead grew to 30 with 2:13 remaining in the half and the Catamounts led 57-19 at the break.
UVM, which ranks 14th in the country in field goal percentage defense, held UMass Lowell to seven field goals and 28 percent shooting in the first 20 minutes.
The Catamounts cruised to the victory in the second half to post their ninth win at Patrick Gymnasium and move to 5-1 in conference home games.
Ethan O'Day led all scorers with 21 points in 20 minutes on 9-for-12 shooting from the field.
Hector Harold added 15 points and six assists.
Cam Ward was perfect on the night, scoring 14 points on 4-for-4 shooting from 3-point range off the bench.
Brandon Hatton posted double figures for the second straight game with 10 points and
Kurt Steidl added 11 points and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds to round out the top performances by the Catamounts.
Chad Holley paced the Riverhawks with 16 points.
Vermont hosts UMBC on Saturday (Feb. 14) at 2 p.m. at Patrick Gymnasium.
Tickets can be purachsed online at UVMathletics.com, in person at the UVM Athletic Ticket Office in Patrick Gymnasium (M-F: 9 a.m.-5 p.m), via the phone at 802-656-4410, or in person one hour before tipoff in the Patrick Gymnasium Lobby.
The game can be heard on ESPN 101.3 FM (online: 1013ESPN.com) with A.J. Kanell on the call. The game will also be streamed for free in HD via CatamounTV.com. NOTES: Vermont's 16 3-pointers ties for 15th among the most in a NCAA Division I game this season … UVM's 76.2 percentage from beyond the arc is a new school record and is the second best percentage in a NCAA Division I game this season … The old 3-point field goal percentage school mark was 70.6 percent (12-for-17) vs. Maine on 2/28/97 ... Toledo shot 85.7 percent (12-for-14) from 3-point range versus Buffalo yesterday (2/10/15) and owns the top spot … Vermont's 66.7 percent from the field ranks just outside the top-20 NCAA Division I single-game performances this season … UVM's 16 three's are the most since the Catamounts made 15 versus Northeastern (1/17/02) … Vermont's 28 assists are the most since Catamounts dished out 27 versus Sacred Heart (12/31/02) … UVM handed out 28 assists on 36 field goals and 10 of the 12 players that saw action had at least one helper ...
Ethan O'Day is shooting 73.9 percent (17-for-23) from the floor and averaging 19 points per game in the last two games … O'Day also picked up two blocks on the night to take over sole possession of fifth among UVM's all-time leaders in blocks ... He needs six more to move past Evan Fjeld '11 (131 career blocks) and into fourth place ... Over the last three halves of basketball, Vermont is shooting 68.4 percent from the floor (52-for-76).