FINAL SCORE: Vermont 74, UAlbany 66
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Redshirt senior Ben Shungu poured in a career-high 21 points as Vermont earned a 74-66 win over UAlbany on Sunday night. The Catamounts earned the weekend split and evened their record at 3-3. The Great Danes slip to 1-4 overall and 1-3 in the league standings.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score: Web | PDF
CatamounTV: Game Highlights | Postgame Press Conference
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"This was a nice bounce-back win today," said Cioffi Men's Basketball Head Coach John Becker. "Obviously, yesterday was a tough loss but I thought our defense in the second half today was more up to par. We made some key shots that were huge and we made some stops down the stretch."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first half was a tight low-scoring affair until UAlbany generated a 19-12 lead near the midway point of the period.
• The Catamounts used two three-pointers from Shungu and Duncan Demuth plus a tough layup from Ryan Davis as a part of an 8-0 run to claw back within 22-21. After two free throws from the Great Danes, Shungu made a pair of his own at the line then banked in a layup with a nice low-post spin move to put the Green and Gold up 26-23 at the seven-minute mark.
• With five minutes left in the half, UAlbany produced eight unanswered points with two triples and a mid-range jumper. Once again, Shungu countered with six points – a triple and an old-fashioned three-point play after he was fouled on a layup then sank the ensuing free throw.
• The rivals went back-and-forth in the last two minutes of the half with the score deadlocked at 39-39 at halftime.
• Vermont opened the second half with eight straight points and built a 47-39 advantage. Isaiah Powell capped off the run with a tip-in to beat the shot clock, was fouled on the play, and made the free throw.
• The Great Danes did not go away quietly. UAlbany battled back and drew within 54-52 with seven minutes left on the clock after putting together a 13-7 run.
• UVM kept the margin to a two-possession game but finally pulled away in the last two minutes of the contest. Davis added another layup and Justin Mazzulla put the game out of reach with a corner three in the final minute. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Shungu scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half and shot 7-of-10 from the floor. The redshirt senior made two of his three attempts from three-point land and dished out two assists.
• Ryan Davis followed with 19 points and five boards. He shot 7-of-14 from the field and grabbed three rebounds on the offensive glass.  
• Mazzulla notched double figures with 11 points and canned three triples.
• Duncan Demuth and Bailey Patella each had seven points off the bench.  
• This season People's United Bank, N.A. will again be generously donating $25 to Sara Holbrook Community Center for every three-point shot that the Catamounts make dur-ing the regular season home games. With today's eight 3s, the total being donated is now up to $975.

WHO'S NEXT
Vermont will make its first road trip of the calendar year with a trip to Binghamton next weekend. The Catamounts will play the Bearcats on Saturday (Jan. 9) and Sunday (Jan. 10) at 2 p.m. All of the action will be streamed on ESPN+ and the ESPN app with a paid subscription. 

Key Motors of South Burlington is the presenting sponsor of the 2020-21 Vermont men's basketball season