Jaxon Baker (3) and Clarence Daniels (21) were in a defensive mode during Tuesday night's America East semfinal at Vermont. (Photo courtesy of UNH Athletics)

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Ileri Ayo-Faleye had 19 points in top-seeded Vermont’s 66-59 victory over fourth-seeded New Hampshire on Tuesday night in the America East Conference Tournament semifinals.

The Catamounts host the championship game on Saturday morning at 11 facing second-seeded UMass Lowell, which beat Bryant 77-70 in the other semifinal.

Ayo-Faleye had eight rebounds for the Catamounts (27-6). Nick Fiorillo scored 13 points while going 4 of 9 (3 for 7 from 3-point range) and added five rebounds. Shamir Bogues shot 4 of 13 from the field, including 0 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 4 from the line to finish with 11 points. The Catamounts picked up their seventh straight victory.

Jaxson Baker led the way for the Wildcats (16-15) with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Ahmad Robinson added 16 points, eight assists and two steals for New Hampshire. Clarence O. Daniels II also had 14 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and three blocks.

The Catamounts, up 31-24 at the break, started the half with nine unanswered points over 1:06, taking a 40-24 lead. UVM then extended the lead to 47-30.

A steal and layup by Robinson lead to some UNH momentum that brought the deficit to 48-41 with 9:17 remaining in the game.

Vermont reclaimed a 60-49 lead but five points from Baker and a three from sophomore guard Rex Sunderland in the matter of a minute brought the ‘Cats within four, 61-57 with 57 seconds left, but that’s as close as they would get.

In UML’s win, the River Hawks used a 19-7 run midway through the second half to turn a five-point deficit into a seven-point lead and held off a late charge from the Bulldogs. The win sends UML to its third championship game in the last five years.

Yuri Covington led UMass Lowell with 17 points. Cam Morris III had a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds and Ayinde Hikim added 14. Rafael Pinzon led the Bulldogs with 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field.

An NCAA bid will be on the line Saturday. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2 and streamed on ESPN+. There will also be a national radio broadcast on Westwood One.

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