MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
 
The Vermont men's basketball team plays the first of two straight home games on Sunday when the Hartford Hawks come to town for a 2 p.m. tipoff at Patrick Gym.
 
Sunday's game can be seen via a FREE live stream available on AmericaEast.TV. Radio coverage begins at 1:30 on ESPN 101.3 FM with AJ Kanell and Bernie Cieplicki calling the action.
 
RELATED LINKS
Vermont Game Notes (.pdf)
Hartford Game Notes
Hartford Game Coverage: Live Video – Live Audio – Live Stats
UMass Lowell Flashback: Game Recap – CatamounTV Highlights
 
Rally Against Cancer: Vermont will wear special pink jerseys on Sunday afternoon as part of the Rally Against Cancer initiative. The team's game-worn jerseys are being auctioned off now at UVMathletics.com/auctions with proceeds going to the University of Vermont Cancer Center. The jersey auction ends on Tuesday, February 16 at noon. Be sure to wear pink to the game to support breast cancer research and all of the efforts being made at the University of Vermont Cancer Center. Otter Creek Awnings and Vermont Custom Closets will be tabling in the lobby along with representatives from the University of Vermont Cancer Center where they will have special pink t-shirts and scarves for sale.
 
Last Time Out at UMass Lowell: For the second time this season, UMass Lowell scored 90+ points on the Vermont and dealt the Catamounts a disappointing road loss last Monday night at the Costello Athletic Center, 100-93. Six Catamounts scored in double-figures – the first time that has happened since 2012 – led by Kurt Steidl's 15 points and six rebounds. Trae Bell-Haynes and Ernie Duncan each scored 14 points and Bell-Haynes dished out a team-high six assists. Ethan O'Day scored 10 points and hauled in nine rebounds to go along with three blocks. The Riverhawks were paced by Jahad Thomas and Isaac White. Thomas pumped in 27 points and nine rebounds and White had 24 due in large part to 5-of-8 shooting from downtown. Lowell shot 57.8% for the game. Vermont shot 83.3% from the floor in the first 20 minutes and only missed four shots but committed 10 turnovers leading to 19 Riverhawk points. A 12-1 run over with about five minutes left in the contest gave UML an 80-71 lead, which it would not relinquish.
 
About Hartford: Hartford enters today's contest coming off a 68-54 loss to Binghamton on Thursday and riding a six-game losing streak. Against the Bearcats, Jalen Ross scored in double-figures for the seventh straight game the lead the way for Hartford but Binghamton used a final surge in the closing minutes to pull away. The Hawks are led by Pancake Thomas - one of the conference's top scoring threats. He leads Hartford in scoring (18.0 ppg), rebounding (6.6 rpg) and assists (2.8 apg). Rookie George Blagojevic averaged 9.8 points per contest and has been named the league Rookie of the Week twice this season. Hartford two league wins - both during the first round of conference action - came against Binghamton and UMBC. The Hawks the lead the league in three pointers made (231) and three-point field goal attempts (663).
 
Series History: Vermont leads the all-times series with Hartford 44-23. This will be the 68th meeting between the two teams. The Catamounts have won 20 of the last 21 and 27 of the last 29 meetings against the Hawks. Hartford's last win over Vermont came on March 23, 2013 in Burlington. John Becker is 9-1 in his career against Hartford. Vermont has won 8 of the last 9 games against Hartford at Patrick Gym including last seasons 81-69 win in Burlington.
 
Last Meeting vs. Hartford: Five Catamounts scored in double figures led by a career-high 24 from senior Ethan O'Day and the Vermont men's basketball defeated Hartford on the road, 83-68. O'Day put together one of the best performances of his career pouring in his 24 points on a swift 10-of-13 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds and a career-high six blocks. Cam Ward finished the night with 17 points, seven assists and five rebounds off the bench while the Duncan brothers combined for 26 points in the win. Hartford got the Vermont lead back to within nine with 2:18 on the clock but Vermont made its free throws down the stretch and earned its 13th straight road victory over Hartford.
 
Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot: Vermont shot 83.7% (20-24) from the field in Monday's loss to UMass Lowell. That is the best shooting percentage in a half since last season against UMass Lowell (Feb. 11, 2015). The Cats shot 22-26 from the field (84.6%) in the first half of what would be a 96-53 win over the Riverhawks.
 
Mr. Triple Digits: Ethan O'Day started his 100th career game last weekend against Albany and in Monday's contest against UMass Lowell, he became just the fourth Catamount all-time with at least 200 blocked shots. O'Day has played in 118 career games and started 101.
 
Home Cooking: The Cats have shown good resiliency when it comes to bouncing back after a loss, especially at home. This season, Vermont is 5-0 in home games following a loss. Six players average in double figures led by Kurt Steidl (13.4 ppg). In those five games, Vermont has also shot nearly 53% from the floor.
 
Swat Team: With 112 blocks through 26 games, the Catamounts rank first in the America East in total blocks and second in blocks per game (4.3). Ethan O'Day ranks second with his 53 blocks.
 
Kurt and Ernie: In Vermont's last two games, Kurt Steidl and Ernie Duncan have shot a combined 12-24 (50%) from beyond the arc. Duncan has averaged 18.5 points per contest in those two games while Steidl has averaged 10.5.