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America East Tournament: Vermont rallies late in second half to earn NCAA berth

By Andrew Nostvick

Mar 11, 2017; Burlington, VT, USA; Vermont Catamounts guard Dre Wills (24) shoots the ball against UAlbany Great Danes forward Dallas Ennema (24) during the first half at the Roy L. Patrick Gymnasium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2017; Burlington, VT, USA; Vermont Catamounts guard Dre Wills (24) shoots the ball against UAlbany Great Danes forward Dallas Ennema (24) during the first half at the Roy L. Patrick Gymnasium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Vermont Catamounts came from nine points down in the second half to secure their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2012.

It took a little extra work, but the Vermont Catamounts are on their way to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012.

Vermont rallied from nine points down in the second half with less than nine minutes to go to defeat the Albany Great Danes 56-53 in the America East Championship game Saturday afternoon.

Albany found itself ahead 47-38 with 8:45 left thanks to a lay-up by David Nichols.

The Catamounts, however, stepped up down the stretch, out-scoring the Great Danes 18-6 in the last eight minutes.

Vermont struggled with shooting throughout the game, and especially in the second half, shooting 33 percent for the game.

The Catamounts got it done at the free-throw line where they were 12-for-15 in the second half.

Payton Hanson put Vermont in the lead for good thanks to a lay-up foul with the free throw, putting them ahead of Albany 55-52 with 36 seconds left.

Hanson led all scorers with 17 points on 5-for-8 shooting and 6-for-7 from the free throw line. Anthony Lamb had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the double-double.

Albany had a couple of opportunities to tie the game, but they weren’t able to pull it off. The Great Danes didn’t make a field goal in the last four minutes of the game.

Travis Charles led Albany with 16 points, while Nichols had 14.

With the win, Vermont added to its win streak total, which remains the nations best at 21 games. They have not lost since Dec. 21 at Butler.

This will mark the sixth NCAA Tournament appearance for the Catamounts. They defeated Lamar in 2012 in a First Four match-up but lost to North Carolina in the next round.

Next: 10 mid-majors that deserve at-large NCAA Tournament bids

Vermont’s only other win in the NCAA Tournament came in 2005 when as a No. 13-seed they knocked off the fourth-seeded Syracuse in the first round. They lost in the second round to Michigan State.

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