BURLINGTON, Vt. – Despite trailing by just three points at halftime, the UMaine men's basketball team could not hold off a second-half surge from No. 1 seed Vermont, falling 75-60 in the quarterfinal round of the America East Playoffs on Saturday night at Patrick Gymnasium.
 
"Vermont is just really, really good," said head coach Bob Walsh in the post-game press conference. "They're a special team. I love the way we fought, approached the game, and attacked it. We were ready to play and we were ready to win. I just hope people recognize what this Vermont team has done and how special it is. I know sometimes you can take things for granted when you're used to winning."
 
Isaiah White led Maine with 17 points, while Aaron Calixte recorded 11. 12 of White's points came in the second half alone, when the redshirt sophomore shot 4-of-6 from the floor. He also added two blocks and two steals in 38 minutes of action. Calixte distributed four assists on the night for the Black Bears.
 
Vernon Lowndes Jr. connected on 3-of-5 shots from the field for nine points, while Andrew Fleming added eight points and five rebounds. Ilija Stojiljkovic cleaned the glass with seven boards to lead Maine.
 
The Black Bears put together an impressive first half overall, only trailing the defending champion Catamounts by a score of 36-33 after 20 minutes. The Black Bears scored 12 of the game's first 16 points, with six points a piece from Calixte and Stojiljkovic during the run. A 6-0 sprint from the Catamounts tied the contest up at 12 all.
 
Maine kept the lead for the time being, as Fleming and Lowndes Jr. chipped in two points each, but the Catamounts roared back to take their first lead of the contest at 18-16. They didn't have the lead long however, as a White layup and a trey from Calixte gave the Black Bears a three-point lead at 21-18.
 
A minute later, Vermont tied the game with a 3-pointer, as the two teams would trade leads. With Maine leading 33-32 with 1:19 left in the opening half, Vermont closed the frame with a layup and two free throws to take a 36-33 lead into the halftime intermission. Overall, there were 11 lead changes in the first half with seven tied scores.
 
The two squads traded baskets to start the half, but Vermont ensued on a 14-4 charge to take a 50-37 advantage. A White 3-pointer cut the lead back to 10, but Vermont extended its lead up to 14 at 54-40 with 12:17 remaining.
 
Maine came within nine points of Vermont at 54-49 after an Ilker Er shot from distance, but Vermont would not let the Black Bears get any closer, defeating Maine 75-60.
 
The Catamounts were led in scoring by Trae Bell-Haynes and Payton Henson who both registered 21 points. Drew Urquhart tallied 10 points and 12 rebounds in a double-double performance.
 
The Black Bears end the 2017-18 campaign with an overall record of 6-26.
 
-UMaine