BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) Depth and balance were two of Vermont's most consistent strengths this season - until the America East championship game Saturday against Albany.

The second-second Catamounts fell to fourth-seeded Albany, 53-49, to fumble a sixth trip to the NCAA tournament in the last 11 years. Vermont was undone by a number of missteps, none more crucial than its backup being outscored 27-9 by the Great Dane's reserves.

"Our bench was terrible, we didn't get anything out of them," Vermont coach John Becker said. "They looked nervous and just overwhelmed a little bit."