Vermont overcomes UMass Lowell for America East championship
Vermont head coach John Becker, left, celebrates with his team after defeating UMass Lowell in the NCAA college basketball game in the final of the America East Conference Tournament, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Burlington, Vt. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Michael Dwyer]
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Dylan Penn scored 21 points, Matt Veretto scored 15 and ignited a game-breaking run, leading Vermont to a 72-59 victory over UMass Lowell in the championship game of the America East playoffs. Vermont will be making its ninth NCAA appearance. UMass Lowell, in its sixth year of eligibility, finished as the runner-up for the second time in three years. Midway through the second half, Veretto scored nine points in three possessions, first hitting three free throws, then adding two 3-pointers as Vermont built a seven-point lead. Several minutes later, Penn hit a layup and Finn Sullivan’s four-point play put the Catamounts in control, 63-50 near the two-minute mark.
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Vermont's Dylan Penn, center left, reacts to being named MVP after Vermont defeated UMass Lowell during an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the America East Conference Tournament, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Burlington, Vt. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Michael Dwyer