Catamounts hang 10th on BU

For coach Dennis Wolff's Boston University Terriers, the postseason is already under way. Oh, not officially. That won't be the case until next weekend's America East tournament at Agganis Arena.

But beginning with last night's game against Vermont, the Terriers' task was daunting, with No. 2 tournament seed Albany awaiting Sunday in their regular-season finale, then the one-and-done phase next weekend.

BU's primary goal in its last home game of the season was to end Vermont's nine-game winning streak.

The Terriers (11-16, 8-7) came close, but were squeezed out as Vermont (22-6, 14-1) pulled out a 57-55 victory at Case Gymnasium, which clinched the regular-season title for the Catamounts.

"We've played pretty consistently for large parts of every game we've played," said Wolff, whose team has a 2-9 record in games decided by 5 points or fewer. "Unfortunately for us, it's like 'Groundhog Day.' "

The top-seeded Catamounts, who set a school record with their 22d regular-season victory, will have home-court advantage if they make it out of the second round of the conference tournament, and had all they could handle with the Terriers -- seven of the last 11 games between the teams have been decided by 5 points or fewer.

The game turned into a typical BU-Vermont clash, with the Catamounts holding a 24-23 halftime lead.

With neither team establishing control, BU came out of a timeout with 3:26 remaining trailing, 45-44, and looking for a regular-season split.

Each possession became a mini-game, and the last minute was a microcosm of the game.

Vermont freshman guard Joe Trapani hit a 3-pointer with 1:14 left to give Vermont a 52-49 edge. Then Corey Lowe's 3-pointer was blocked by Mike Trimboli, but Lowe followed and was fouled with 41.6 seconds remaining by Kyle Cieplicki. Lowe made both to cut Vermont's lead to 52-51.

Vermont ran the clock down to 16.3 seconds and called time with 10 seconds remaining on the shot clock. BU guard Tyler Morris fouled Trimboli with 13.8 seconds remaining and Trimboli responded by hitting nothing but net to give Vermont a 54-51 edge.

With 9.6 seconds left, Wolff called time out to set up an attempt at a tying basket. Trimboli immediately fouled Lowe with 7.2 seconds left.

The BU freshman guard, one of a core of talented and hungry players Wolff recruited to reestablish the Terriers in the upper echelon of the league, made a pair of free throws to cut the Vermont lead to 1. Then Trimboli was on the foul line with 6.2 seconds remaining and made both to give Vermont a 56-53 lead.

With 4.6 seconds left, Lowe was back on the line shooting free throws. Again, both were good, cutting the lead to 56-55. And with 3.9 seconds remaining, Trimboli (15 points, 6 of 8 from the line) missed one of two from the line and BU had a chance with 3.9 seconds left, trailing, 57-55.

But there was no miracle finish for the Terriers, leaving them frustrated, and the Catamounts relieved.

"I'm really glad they finished third," said Vermont coach Mike Lonegran, whose team could have faced BU (as a fourth seed) in next week's semifinals. "I was just happy to win the game."

The Terriers would be happy to win any close game.

"They like to slow things down, so Coach told us to press and got them out of their rhythm," said Lowe, who had a game-high 22 points and was 9 of 10 from the free throw line.

Although the Terriers outrebounded the Catamounts, 36-30, they shot 31 percent.

With neither team gaining an edge -- Vermont's 5-point lead was the largest in the first half -- the game became a series of runs.

BU was acutely aware of what the Catamounts can do, having endured a 15-1 run against them Feb. 5, when Vermont sprinted to a 72-63 victory.

But recent history suggested a last-minute decision.

Neither team put together scoring bursts in the first 10 minutes of the second half -- Vermont briefly had a 4-point lead -- and as the game moved into the final 10 minutes, it appeared as if the team with the final scoring surge would walk away with the victory.

And last night that surge -- or edge -- belonged to Vermont.

Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.