Vermont rallied from nine-point second half deficit, extended the nation's longest active winning streak to 21 and clinched an NCAA Tournament berth with a 56-53 victory over Albany in the America East tournament final on Saturday in Burlington, Vt.
Payton Henson scored 17 points, including a three-point play that broke a tie at 52, as the Catamounts (29-5) reached the Big Dance for the first time in five years. Vermont trailed 47-38 with 8:50 to play.
The Catamounts were a First Four team in their last NCAA appearance in 2012. They won that game but lost in the second round.
