UMBC at Vermont 1/23/19 - College Basketball Picks & Predictions

Vermont is 12-1 after starting the season at 3-3. The Catamounts lead the American East standings and may have a little extra motivation when they host UMBC on Wednesday. UMBC beat Vermont in the finals of the conference tournament last year to get an NCAA berth after Vermont had beaten them soundly twice in the regular season. UMBC is the team that beat Virginia last year in the first round.

Vermont is 15-4 overall and 5-0 in the American East. The Catamounts have a six-game win streak going. UMBC is 11-9 and 3-2 in the conference. UMBC won its last two games and is 4-2 over the last six. The last game was won on a three-pointer late in overtime. The Retrievers are 2-4 in games decided by six or fewer points. Vermont is led by Anthony Lamb with 20.6 points per game and 7.5 rebounds. Earnie Duncan is averaging 13.6 and Ste Smith is at 12.7. The three of them have 108 of the team's 146 three-pointers. Duncan has 39 and is shooting 43 percent. Smith has 38 and Lamb has 31. the team is shooting 34 percent outside the arc and 46 inside.

Joe Sherburne is averaging 14.1 points and Brandon Horvath is averaging 10.9 for the Retrievers. Sherburn has 36 three-pointers and is shooting 42 percent. Ricky Council has made 32 threes and has not played a lot this year.

Vermont is averaging 76.3 points and giving up 65.9. UMBC is averaging 69.2 and is giving up 64.4.