America East Finals Recap

(2) Vermont 72, (4) Maine 53
Vermont got its star back, and Maine lost its star — and in the end, that made all the difference.

Taylor Coppenrath, the two-time America East Player of the Year who had not played in nearly a month with a left wrist injury, scored an America East Tournament record 43 points to lead Vermont to a 72-53 win over Maine in the championship game in Burlington, Vermont.

Coppenrath, who made 14 of 19 shots and grabbed 13 rebounds as well, had 28 points in the first half to outscore Maine all by himself as the Black Bears managed just 23 points. The Black Bears, who were led by Eric Dobson’s 11 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists, never got untracked offensively, hurt in part by an injury limiting all-conference center Mark Flavin.

Coppenrath scored 9 points in a run of 14 straight Catamount points in the first half that gave Vermont (22-8) the lead for good at 22-10. Maine (20-10) responded with eight un answered points of their own, but the Catamounts then scored ten in a row as part of an 18-5 run to close the half.

Maine tried to rally in the second half, but got no closer than eight points at 49-41 with under 12 minutes left. Dobson and Reed struggled (shoting a combined 8-34 from the field) after two excellent games last weekend, but they weren’t alone: the Black Bears shot 33/9% from the field for the game. Vermont also made the most of Maine’s 14 turnovers, as they cashed them in for 18 points.

Coppenrath was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, joined by teammates Germain Njila and T.J. Sorrentine, Kevin Reed of Maine and D.J. Munir of Stony Brook.