FINAL SCORE: Vermont 86, UMBC 69
BALTIMORE, Md. – An early 20-4 run gave the Catamounts an insurmountable lead as Vermont (11-4, 3-0 AE) defeated UMBC (6-8, 1-2 AE) 86-69 on Saturday afternoon at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena. The Catamounts had five scorers in double figures for the second consecutive game.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score: Web | PDF
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COACH'S QUOTE
"It was good to get the first road win of league play down here in Baltimore," Cioffi Men's Basketball Head Coach John Becker said. "We got off to a great start with the 20-4 run by the first media timeout. The guys continue to play really well offensively. Finn Sullivan had another great game with us as well as Aaron Deloney off the bench. Isaiah Powell had another game with nine assists – he's playing a complete floor game for us. It was a really good road win for us and the guys are really confident right now, so we're in a really good place."
 
HOW IT HAPPPENED

• The Vermont offense exploded out of the gate, sinking seven of its first eight shots to grab its 20-4 lead with 15:11 left in the first half. Sullivan popped a trio of three pointers to lead the Catamounts in the early run. UVM was 4-of-5 from deep in the first 4:49.
• UVM took its first 20-point lead of the afternoon with 12:54 remaining in the first half when a Ryan Davis sank his third trey for a 30-7 Catamount lead. The 23-point advantage was Vermont's largest for the first half. UVM would take a 50-33 lead into the locker room.
• A pair of threes from Justin Mazzulla and Sullivan helped the Catamounts retake a 20-point lead, with Sullivan's sixth trey of the night putting Vermont up 56-35. UMBC briefly cut the lead to 15 points, trailing 62-47 after a three pointer from Matteo Picarelli with 12:23 remaining.
• Vermont's lead extended to 19 points on several occasions during the closing minutes of the second half. Ben Shungu tacked on nine points in the final 12 minutes as the Catamounts maintained their double-digit lead.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Catamounts shoot over 50.0% from the field and 40.0% from deep for the third consecutive game.
• Davis led the Vermont attack with 21 points on an efficient 9-for-13 shooting night. The forward drilled 3-of-5 attempts from long range and picked up nine rebounds.
• Sullivan posted a season-high 20 points 7-of-14 shooting. The senior drilled 6-of-12 three pointers, which included five first-half treys. Sullivan's six triples were a career-high.
• Powell and Shungu had matching 13-point outputs on the afternoon. Powell registered nine assists for second consecutive game and scooped up seven rebounds. Shungu shot 5-for-9 from the floor and dished out three assists.
• Deloney rounded out the Vermont scorers in double figures with 10 points, sinking 3-of-6 field goal attempts.
• With today's win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to COTS, the Committee on Temporary Shelter, as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. A special thank you to Vermont Mutual Insurance for their support. Vermont Mutual Insurance, protecting Vermonters since 1828.

UP NEXT
UVM continues conference play away from home when it visits NJIT on Wednesday (Jan. 19). Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. and can be seen live on ESPN+. Fans can listen for free on the Vermont Sports Network, from Learfield IMG College on The Game, which will air on 97.1 FM in Burlington, 105.9 FM in Plattsburgh, and 960 AM around the rest of the region. The radio broadcast is also available online at Catamounts All-Access with Brian McLaughlin on the call.
 
Key Motors of South Burlington is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's basketball