FINAL SCORE: Vermont 74, Bryant 64
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Cioffi Men's Basketball Head Coach John Becker set the program record for wins (265) on Thursday night, as Vermont (8-8, 2-0 AE) beat Bryant (10-5, 1-1 AE) 74-64 in a wire-to-wire victory at Patrick Gym.
 
RELATED LINKS
CatamounTV Highlights
Box Score
Locker Room Celebration
CatamounTV Postgame: Becker | Duncan | Deloney
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Yeah, great, great win tonight in front of an awesome crowd against a really good Bryant team," Becker said. "I thought our defense was tremendous right from the opening tap, and I thought we just kind of controlled the game on that end of the court and limited a really talented team. It's a great way to start in league. It's really important to win the home games in league so you know, we will enjoy this one tonight. Obviously, a special night for me personally, and, I'd like to thank all my former players all my former coaches, staff, the University of Vermont for giving me this opportunity, for Coach Brennan getting this thing going and making it a good job, a cool job. I have so much to appreciate and be thankful for, but it seems surreal, and I'm glad it's kind of over now so we can get back to just focusing on the guys."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Matt Veretto fueled the early offense for Vermont, scoring the game's first seven points in 2:17 of play. The UVM forward made a jumper from inside the paint to open the game, and capped off his 7-0 run with a three-pointer.
• The conference foes traded baskets until Bryant's 7-2 run that pulled the Bulldogs to within a basket of the Catamounts. Chauncey Hawkins converted on a layup for the final basket of the run, but Vermont remained in front 13-11 with 12:18 left in the first half.
• UVM answered quickly with an 11-2 run over the next 2:47 to open up a 24-13 lead with 9:40 remaining in the frame. TJ Hurley led Vermont with four points as the Cats were 3-for-4 from the field while shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the line during that stretch.
• The lead grew to as large as 15 points when Ileri Ayo-Faleye sank a free throw that gave Vermont a 33-18 lead with 3:25 left in the first half. The Catamounts would take a 33-22 lead into the locker room.
• Bryant brought the UVM lead down to single digits on several occasions in the second half, but the Catamounts always had a response.
• Vermont opened the frame hitting five of their first nine three-point attempts in 9:26 of play. Kam Gibson capped off a 9-2 run in the middle part of the frame with a three-point play to put the Cats up 53-37 with 10:34 remaining.
• The Bulldogs slowed the game down with fouls down the stretch, sending the Catamounts to the line 17 times. Bryant chipped away at the Vermont lead, and pulled to within six points when Tyler Brelsford sank a three-pointer that made the score 68-62 with 50 seconds remaining.
• Gibson and Deloney combined for a perfect 6-for-6 from the line to clinch the 74-64 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Becker earns his program-best 265th win in just 12 seasons at Vermont. His record improves to 265-110 as bench boss of the Catamounts.
• Becker's win is also his 150th in America East play, earning it in just his 178th conference game. Becker's 150 wins in 178 conference games is the fourth-fastest rate in Division I Men's Basketball history.
• Deloney poured in a game-high 19 points on a career-high five treys. The senior was 5-for-7 from long range, and converted 4-of-6 attempts at the free throw line.
• Veretto finished in double figures for the third time in his last four games, making 6-of-9 attempts from the field for 13 points.
• Hurley and Gibson rounded out the Catamounts in double figures with 12 points and 11 points, respectively. Both guards went 7-for-8 from the line.
• With tonight's win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to King Street Youth Center as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Since its inauguration in 2017, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has donated over $80,000 to local non-profits through the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative.  

UP NEXT
The Catamounts return to action on Sunday (Jan. 8) when they visit New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m. at Lundholm Gymnasium, and will broadcast live on ESPN+. Fans can listen to the action for free on the Vermont Sports Network, from Learfield 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 via the Varsity Network App with Brian McLaughlin on the call.
 
McGee Automotive Group is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's basketball