FINAL SCORE: Miami (OH) 70, Vermont 69
OXFORD, Ohio – Darweshi Hunter banked in a long-range three pointer at the buzzer to lift Miami (5-6) to a 70-69 victory over Vermont (9-5) on Friday afternoon at Millett Hall.
 
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Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Yeah, obviously a tough loss today," Cioffi Men's Basketball Head Coach John Becker said. "Really tough up eight I think with 1:17 to go, and credit to Miami – they made the plays down the stretch. We left 11 free throws out there. It was a tough, physical matchup today at the end of a long road trip and you know, we had that game in control and just kind of let it slip away. So, credit to Miami, but we've got to do a better job obviously closing out the game."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Aaron Deloney fueled Vermont's early attack scoring 11 of its first 15 points as the Cats led by one with 11:53 left in the half. Matt Veretto had four points in the opening minutes including a three pointer that was followed by a trey from Deloney.  
• Nick Fiorillo threw down a dunk that sparked an 8-3 run for Vermont to take a 23-17 lead with 6:28 left in the opening half. The six-point lead was UVM's largest of the frame.
• The RedHawks began to chip away at the Catamounts' lead and eventually tied the game with a trey from Ryan Mabrey that made the score 28-28 with 2:46 left in the half. Veretto quickly put Vermont back in front when he knocked down a contested three pointer from long range on the following possession.
• UVM would remain in the lead until a layup by Anderson Mirambeaux with 0:10 left that knotted the game at 32-32.
• TJ Long drew a shooting foul with 0.5 seconds remaining in the first half and knocked down both free throws to give Vermont a 34-32 lead heading into the break.
• Miami opened the second half on a 6-2 run to take a 38-36 lead but Vermont countered with six straight points to pull back in front. Ileri Ayo-Faleye had six of UVM's eight points to help the Cats lead 42-38 with 15:05 remaining.
• The Vermont lead grew to six points minutes later when Jace Roquemore drove from the corner and threw down a dunk to go up 46-40 with 12:30 to go.
• Mirambeaux and Bradley Dean combined for five straight points to briefly cut the Miami deficit to one, but Brenton Mills responded with a three pointer from the corner to stop the run. Mills' trey started a 9-2 run that gave Vermont a 55-47 lead with 8:56 left in the game.
• Hunter and the RedHawks scored on three straight possessions minutes later to shrink UVM's lead to one point with 5:34 to go.
• Fiorillo answered with a layup through contact and Ayo-Faleye knocked down a corner trey as UVM scored eight straight points to take a 63-54 lead with 3:31 left.
• Miami charged back on a 10-3 run, with seven of its points coming from the line to pull to within one possession with 0:18 remaining. Hunter drained a three pointer at the end of the run that made the score 66-64.
• Long cashed in a pair of free throws to grow the Vermont lead to four points with 13 seconds remaining, but Evan Ipsauro answered with a three pointer on the following possession to make the score 68-67 with 0:04 to go.
• Long knocked down the first of two free throws on the following possession, but missed the second, leading to a rebound and fastbreak up the court. Hunter caught a pass from Mirambeaux and released from long range, banking in a three-pointer at the buzzer.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Catamounts shot 50.0% (23-for-46) from the field, but struggled at the line making 60.0% (17-for-28) of their free throws.
• UVM led for 29:48 of the game and 17:41 of the second half.
• Deloney paced Vermont with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field. Veretto (12 points) and Fiorillo (11 points) also reached double figures.

UP NEXT
The Catamounts will take a brief holiday break and will return to action in 2024 when they visit Brown on Jan. 2 in Providence, R.I. The non-conference finale is set for 7 p.m. ET at Pizzitola Sports Center. Tickets are available at BrownBears.com.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
The matchup between the Catamounts and Bears will broadcast live on ESPN+. Fans can listen to the game 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 Family is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's basketball