Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: Maine Sports

Media Credit: rose collins LONE STAR - Chris Bruff, seen here going up for a jam, shined for UMaine with 21 points despite the 90-75 setback.

Media Credit: rose collins TRIM SPA - Vermont's Mike Trimboli survey's the floor during last night's hoops showdown at Alfond Arena.

ORONO - Al Capone would've been proud. The University of Vermont doled out punishment in the paint that was worthy of the Chicago mobster's legendary muggings last night, sending the University of Maine men's basketball team to its third-straight defeat, 90-75, in a St. Valentine's Day massacre of sorts at Alfond Arena.

The Catamounts dominated the glass, 55-25, and used a 27-8 edge in second-chance points as a springboard to their eighth-straight win. Vermont moved to 11-1 atop America East and 20-6 overall while avenging its only conference loss of the year.

"It's tough getting beat on the boards like that," said senior Chris Bruff, who led UMaine with 21 points. "If we're not rebounding it doesn't help us get out and run our offense."

The setback dropped UMaine to 11-15 on the year and 6-8 in conference action and continued an alarming decline in the Black Bears' rebounding ability. Over this three-game losing skid, UMaine's opponents hold a 149-82 edge in total rebounds, including 55 offensive boards and 58 second-chance points.

"We need to step up," said senior Jon Sheets. "We can't be making those mistakes this late in the season."

Chris Holm was a force inside for UVM with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Martin Klimes also had a double-double with 10 points and 12 boards. In all, the Cats' starting frontcourt had 30 rebounds as opposed to 11 from the Black Bears' big men.

"Our big guys need to step up," said UMaine head coach Ted Woodward. "Their primary guys had 23 rebounds to our four - that can't happen."

Mike Trimboli poured in 21 points - including four treys in the second half - and Marqus Blakely added 24 for the hot-shooting Catamounts, who connected on 53 percent of their field goals. But the statistics are misleading due to the gross amount of easy looks Vermont got from offensive rebounds.

"That's the story," said Woodward. "If you take away those rebounds, they're probably shooting under 40 percent. You cannot give up that many [second] shots so close to the basket."

The night began modestly enough, with UMaine jumping out to an 18-10 lead thanks to a pair of three pointers from senior Kevin Reed. But the Catamounts battled back on the strength of 16 from Blakely, tying the game at 22-22.

Vermont seized control in the first half's final three minutes, scoring nine unanswered point to take their biggest lead of the night into the locker room, 44-35.

"Their last 10 of the first half were all off of offensive rebounds," Woodward said. "Almost all of their points in the paint were on offensive rebounds. We have to do a better job."

"We dominated the boards," said UVM head coach Mike Lonergan. "It was sloppy, but we've been winning sloppy all year. We knew if we kept going inside, we'd win."

Trimboli came alive in the second half, connecting on four treys - including one as he fell to floor from the right wing - to put Vermont's lead to 20 at 67-47 with 15:00 to play. Woodward inserted a smaller line-up and went to a press defense that forced a number of turnovers and nearly got UMaine back into the game,

"That quicker line-up caused them some problems," Woodward explained. "We needed to turn the heat up."

Spurred by 12 straight points from Bruff - nine of them from the free throw line - the Black Bears drew to 69-59 with 10:00 to go. But UMaine couldn't close the gap any further and Vermont coasted to the finish line, leading by double-digits the rest of the way.

"I just found a rhythm," said Trimboli, who hit a number of timely treys that kept the Black Bears from getting over the hump. "Shooters shoot. Even when they're not falling, you have to keep shooting."

Reed scored 14 in the first half, but didn't score in the second until he buried a three with under 5:00 left in the game. The Black Bears were also hindered by an off shooting night from Sheets, who was 2-of-8 from behind the arc.

"We did a much better job with Reed in the second half," Lonergam said. "Our whole game plan was to try to limit Sheets and Reed shooting three's."

Junior Bernal added 14 points and Sheets totaled 10 as four Black Bears reached double-figures in scoring. Despite a considerable 19-7 edge in turnovers and a generally effective offensive output, UMaine couldn't overcome Vermont's prowess in the paint.

"We need a more balanced performance from our frontcourt across the board," Woodward said.

The Black Bears turn their attention to old friend Northeastern, who left America East following the 2004 season and was the last club to top 90 points at Alfond Arena before the Catamounts did last night.

The Huskies and Black Bears match up on Huntington Avenue. Saturday as part of ESPN's BracketBuster extravaganza. The break from conference play should be a welcome one for UMaine, which has just two AEast games left to right the ship before the conference tournament March 2.

"We know what we have to do," said Sheets. "It's a three game season now, and that's how we have to play."

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools