Home / Sports / Armstrong Jr. Explodes for 33, UMBC Claims NCAA Berth
Armstrong Jr. Explodes for 33, UMBC Claims NCAA Berth
15 Mar
Summary
- UMBC secured its first America East title since 2018.
- DJ Armstrong Jr. scored 33 points, including a record seven 3-pointers.
- UMBC enters the NCAA Tournament on a 12-game winning streak.
Top-seeded UMBC triumphed in the America East Conference tournament, defeating second-seeded Vermont 74-59 to capture their first title since 2018. The victory guarantees UMBC an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament.
DJ Armstrong Jr. was the standout performer, scoring a game-high 33 points on an exceptional 9-of-11 shooting, including a championship-game record of seven successful 3-pointers. His stellar play earned him Most Outstanding Player honors for the tournament. UMBC's dominant performance concluded with a 26-8 run in the final moments.
The Retrievers, who have now won 12 consecutive games, achieved their third conference tournament championship. Vermont fought hard, with TJ Long contributing 17 points off the bench, but could not overcome UMBC's late surge. In a separate contest, top-seeded Howard also secured their conference title, defeating North Carolina Central 70-63 to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
