One fan’s sign had a request echoed by hundreds of UMBC fans who made the 270-mile drive from Catonsville to the Events Center at Binghamton University in Vestal, N.Y.

“Bring it back to the RAC.”

And that’s just what the top-seeded Retrievers did by pulling away for a 73-64 win over fourth-seeded Vermont in the semifinals of the America East Tournament on Sunday. The victory enables UMBC (23-8) to host the conference final against Hartford (18-15) at noon on Saturday in front of a national television audience on ESPN2, with the winner advancing to the NCAA Tournament.

The Retrievers, who are guaranteed at worst a trip to the second-tier National Invitation Tournament, had never made any postseason tournament or played in a conference championship game since becoming a Division I team in 1986.

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Last season, Vermont ended UMBC’s season in the semifinals of the conference tournament. And for much of the second half on Sunday, it appeared the Retrievers were in danger falling to 0-9 all-time in conference semifinal games.

Vermont (16-15) led 60-55 with four minutes, 15 seconds remaining before senior forward Cavell Johnson’s layup started a 12-0 run to earn his team’s school record-tying 23rd victory of the season.

Senior guard Ray Barbosa helped seal the game by making free throws down the stretch. Barbosa was perfect on 15 shots from the line and finished with a game high 29 points, 21 coming in the second half. Forward Darryl Proctor helped keep UMBC in the game with strong post play early, and finished with 17 points.

The Catamounts had the hotter hand for most of the game and shot 51 percent from the field, with UMBC shooting just 32.8 percent. Vermont’s sloppy play, however, ended up costing it, as the Catamounts committed 21 turnovers compared to UMBC’s seven.

UMBC made 26-of-31 free throws in the second half, and 27-of-34 for the game. Vermont guard Mike Trimboli scored 21 points, but the Retrievers held America East Player of the Year Marqus Blakely to just nine.

The Retrievers split with Hartford, which advanced to the conference final for the first time by defeating Boston University, 59-52, on Sunday, during the regular season. UMBC edged the Hawks, 86-85, at RAC Arena in January before losing, 58-57, at Hartford in their final regular season game on March 2. But the last time the teams played, UMBC already had clinched the regular season title and the top seed in the conference tournament. This time, the Retrievers will be putting their title hopes on the line with a chance to go where the team has never gone before.

avitelli@baltimoreexaminer.com