MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont (10-6, 0-1 AE) will make its first road trip of the conference season at UMBC (7-10, 0-2 AE) on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 11). The opening tip is set for 1 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase through
TicketMaster.com.
TELEVISION AND RADIO COVERAGE
The conference showdown can be seen on ESPN+ with a paid subscription. Fans can also listen live on the Vermont Sports Network, from Learfield IMG College, on 101.3 The Game or online at
Catamounts All-Access with Jake Marsh on the call.
RELATED LINKS
UMBC: Video | Live Stats | Audio | Tickets
Game Notes: Vermont
LAMB RECOGNIZED BY COLLEGEINSIDER.COM
Anthony Lamb was named to a pair of Midseason Watch Lists this week. He was one of 30 student-athletes selected to the Lute Olson Award Midseason Award Watch List, which is presented to the nation's top Division I player. He also landed on the Lou Henson Award Midseason Watch List, which recognizes the top mid-major players in the country. The Rochester, New York native boasts a team-best 17.4 scoring and 7.8 rebounding average. He has scored double digits against every Division I opponent this year and has hit the 20-point mark six times.
BOUNCING BACK
The Cats have done a nice job of bouncing back from losses in recent years. Vermont is 19-5 following a loss since 2016-17, including 9-1 in the last two years. The Green and Gold have not suffered back-to-back regular season conference losses since February 6-8, 2016 with road losses at UAlbany (L, 75-71) and UMass Lowell (L, 100-93). The 54-game run without consecutive league setbacks is the longest active streak in America East.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Catamounts will play their first game outside of the twin state area in over a month. In the last four years, the Green and Gold have earned more road wins than any team in the country. Vermont has won 38 road games while Nicholls State follows with 33 wins. Hofstra and Winthrop sit in a third-place tie with 30 victories.
RELIVING LAST YEAR'S AMERICA EAST TITLE GAME | CatamounTV Highlights
Top-seeded Vermont captured its seventh conference title after taking down defending champion and No. 3 seed UMBC 66-49 in the 2019 America East Championship Game.
Anthony Lamb was named the Reggie Lewis Most Outstanding Player (MOP) for the second time in his career. The MOP had a monster game with a game-high 28 points and nine rebounds. The junior shot 8-of-16 from the floor, 9-of-12 from the line, and canned three triples.
Stef Smith reached double figures with 17 points and pulled down eight boards.
SCOUTING UMBC
The Retrievers sit at 0-2 in the conference standings for the first time under Ryan Odom after falling to UMass Lowell 86-73 in overtime on Sunday and at Binghamton 79-75 on Wednesday. UMBC leads the league with a 45.2% team field goal percentage and +1.35 turnover margin. K.J. Jackson guides the offense with 11.7 points per game. He had scored 10-plus in 10 straight games before the Bearcats held him scoreless in 36 minutes of action in Wednesday's setback. R.J. Eytle-Rock has dropped 14.0 points per game in conference play. He is coming off a career-high 18-point performance at Binghamton and shot 6-of-11 from the floor.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Vermont leads the all-time series 33-7 and strung together 23 straight wins from January 2009 to February 2018 before falling in the 2018 America East Championship Game. Since the title game loss, UMBC has beat UVM two out of the last three meetings – just two of four regular season conference losses in its last 54 league contests.
National Life Group is the presenting sponsor of the 2019-20 Vermont men's basketball season