BURLINGTON, Vt. -- Sandro Carissimo scored 20 points with four 3-pointers and seven assists as Vermont pounded Maine 92-65 on Tuesday night, holding onto a piece of the conference lead.

Maine battled with the Catamounts (15-9, 9-1 America East) for most of the first half until a 17-4 run -- which featured a 3-pointer by Clancy Rugg and two by Carissimo -- snapped a tie at 26 and put Vermont up 43-30. Vermont scored 51 by halftime.

The Catamounts made 38 of 63 shots, including 7 of 11 from 3-point range with Rugg scoring 15 points.

Maine (5-17, 3-7) made only four field goals in the final 9:19 of the first half. Zarko Valjarevic led the Black Bears with 19 points, Kilian Cato added 15.

Vermont blocked 10 shots, with Ethan O'Day and Dre Wills swatting four each. The Catamounts cleared the bench, with 13 players checking in and 12 scoring.