Courtesy Associated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. — Trae Bell-Haynes scored 18 points and Vermont defeated Albany 60-49 on Wednesday night for the Catamounts’ ninth-straight win.

Kurt Steidl added 10 points for Vermont (17-5), which is 7-0 in the American East Conference for the first time in 12 seasons.

The Catamounts scored the last six points of the first half and the first four of the second to open a 35-25 lead. The defense did the rest. The lead stayed around 10 until a 3-point play by Bell-Haynes and a 3-pointer by Ernie Duncan made it 53-38 with 5:13 to play.

Albany (12-10, 3-4) shot a season-low 29.7 percent (19 of 64) and matched its season-low for points. The Great Danes were 1 of 8 from 3-point range. Joe Cremo finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds andDavid Nichols had 12 points.

Vermont shot 44 percent despite going 3 of 18 from 3-point range.