MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Fresh off a weekend sweep at Binghamton, Vermont (5-3, 5-3 AE) will host Maine (2-5, 2-4 AE) for a two-game set this weekend. The Catamounts and Black Bears will square off on Saturday (Jan. 16) at 2 p.m. then again on Sunday (Jan. 17) at 1 p.m.
TELEVISION AND RADIO COVERAGE
All of the action can be seen on ESPN3 and the ESPN app by logging in with your television provider. Fans can also listen live on the Vermont Sports Network, from Learfield IMG College, on 101.3 The Game or online at
Catamounts All-Access with Brian McLaughlin on the call.
RELATED LINKS
Maine: Video (Sat.) | Video (Sun.) | Live Stats | Audio
Game Notes: Vermont | Maine
CatamounTV: Weekly Media Day (1/14/21)
AMERICA EAST COMES TOGETHER TO HELP END RACISM
America East men's and women's basketball teams will proudly wear "End Racism" shooting shirts this weekend to raise awareness and demonstrate our commitment to ending racial inequality and promoting social justice. This weekend UVM Athletics also celebrates the life and achievements, of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
AMERICA EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ryan Davis was named America East Player of the Week on Monday. It was his first career weekly accolade from the league. Davis averaged 17.0 points an 9.5 rebounds per game as the Catamounts swept their two-game road series at Binghamton over the weekend. The Schaumburg, Illinois native shot 60.8% (14-of-23) from the floor in the two games and collected seven offensive rebounds. He made a triple in each contest and logged two steals. On Saturday, he recorded his second double-double of the season with 25 points and 11 boards.
POWELL-BUNGA DUDE!
Isaiah Powell averaged 13.0 points per game last weekend at Binghamton after scoring 14 points in Saturday's 76-60 win, then 12 points in Sunday's 84-44 victory. The 26-point series is Powell's highest offensive total in back-to-back games as a Catamount. On Sunday, he shot 5-of-6 from the floor for an .833 field goal percentage. It was his best shooting game with at least multiple field goal attempts since his freshman year in 2018-19 when he connected on a perfect 4-for-4 against Binghamton on January. 19, 2019.
LENDING A HAND
Ben Shungu handed out 13 assists in the Binghamton series and has distributed 29 assists in his last six games (4.8 per game). He was credited with a career-high nine assists in Saturday's 76-60 win. Shungu is the league's frontrunner with 3.9 assists per game and a 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio.
NO. 1 OFFENSE VS. NO. 1 DEFENSE
Vermont boasts the league's top offense at 74.4 points per game. The Cats have netted 70-plus in three straight games and five out of the last six. In contrast, Maine has the best scoring defense and has only surrendered 61.1 points per game this season. In terms of percentage, the Green and Gold lead America East with a 46.1% team field goal percentage. Maine ranks second behind UMBC with a 40.7% field-goal percentage defense.
SCOUTING MAINE
The Black Bears are coming off a 45-41 win at NJIT on Sunday and have won two out of their last four games. In addition to having the best scoring defense in the league, Maine also has the second-lowest three-point percentage defense at 29.4% behind only UMass Lowell (28.7%). LeChaun DuHart paces the team and sits at No. 10 in America East with 12.7 points per game. In last weekend's series with NJIT, he averaged 16.5 points and shot 47.0% (8-for-17) from behind the arc. Stephane Ingo is the second Black Bear to average double figures. The redshirt sophomore has strung together five straight games with at least 10 points including four consecutive double-doubles.
INSIDE THE SERIES
The Catamounts and Black Bears have met 146 times as UVM leads the head-to-head series 76-70. The long-standing rivalry is the second-longest in school history, trailing only the rivalry with New Hampshire (155 games). The first matchup between Vermont and Maine was back on February 25, 1950 in Burlington as the Cats walked away with a 52-41 win. The Green and Gold have won the last 20 meetings – the longest active winning streak against a conference opponent. In each of the last five years, the foes have met in the America East Tournament.
Key Motors of South Burlington is the presenting sponsor of the 2020-21 Vermont men's basketball season
