UMBC Retrievers Triumph in America East Playoffs
In a thrilling showdown at the America East Playoffs championship, DJ Armstrong showcased his prowess by netting seven 3-pointers and achieving a career-high of 33 points, propelling the top-seeded UMBC Retrievers to a 74-59 triumph against the second-seed Vermont Catamounts on Saturday.
Historic Return to NCAA Tournament
This victory marks UMBC’s return to the NCAA Tournament for the third time, and notably, their first since 2018, when they made history as the first 16-seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in the tournament, overcoming Virginia with a score of 74-54.
Armstrong’s Key Contributions
Armstrong played a pivotal role in the victory, igniting a crucial scoring streak with three consecutive 3-pointers, including a dramatic four-point play that helped UMBC establish a 64-56 lead with less than two minutes left on the clock. Closing out the game with precision, Armstrong and teammate Josh Odunowo converted all ten of their free throw attempts down the stretch.
Armstrong displayed remarkable shooting accuracy, making 9 of 11 field goal attempts and hitting 8 of 9 from the charity stripe, while Ace Valentine chipped in with 13 points, going a perfect 7 for 7 from the line. UMBC finished the game converting 84.6% of their free throws, successfully hitting 22 out of 26 attempts.
Vermont’s Struggles
On the other side, Vermont’s TJ Long led his team with 17 points, while teammates TJ Hurley and Gus Yalden contributed 11 points each. The Catamounts, however, struggled from the free-throw line, hitting only 4 of their 10 attempts.
Game Highlights
The match began with Vermont taking an early lead at 17-12 thanks to Long’s three-pointer, and they held the advantage at 23-22 midway through the first half. Nevertheless, Armstrong’s three-point play ignited a late-period rally, allowing UMBC to close the half ahead, 30-28.
Vermont managed to reclaim the lead at 51-48 in the second half, but it would be their last as the Retrievers dominated the closing minutes of the game.
Looking Ahead
With an outstanding home record of 15-2 this season and a perfect record against America East rivals at home, UMBC now looks forward to the NCAA Tournament, with pairings to be revealed on Sunday. This marks an exciting continuation of their remarkable journey in collegiate basketball.
