BURLINGTON, Vt. – Top-seeded Vermont (26-6) closed the first half with a decisive 30-5 run and defeated seventh-seeded Binghamton (10-23) 84-51 in the America East semifinals Tuesday night at Patrick Gymnasium.

The Bearcats were coming off a quarterfinal upset of second-seeded Stony Brook and only trailed by five, 22-17, with just over nine minutes remaining in the first half. But the regular season champion Catamounts exploded for 30 points in the final nine minutes, thanks in part to 10-of-15 shooting from 3-point range.

Vermont shot 68 percent in the first half (21-of-31), led 52-22 at the break and advanced to their fourth straight America East championship game.

Binghamton played a near-even second half but the damage was done.

Sophomore guard Stef Smith led all scorers with 28 points (8-of-10 3-pt FG). Conference Player of the Year Anthony Lamb added 18 points.

The Bearcats were led by senior forward Caleb Stewart, who had 16 points.

The game was the final collegiate game for BU seniors Stewart, J.C. Show, Everson Davis and Timmy Rose.