FINAL SCORE: Vermont 74, Yale 77
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont (5-4) battled back-and-forth with Yale (7-1) on Sunday night from Patrick Gymnasium, but it was the Bulldogs that walked away with the 77-74 win during the Catamount's Military Appreciation game.
 
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Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Tough loss in a really good college basketball game. I feel bad about the last play call. That's one I'll have to take ownership of. I thought turnovers hurt us the whole game. We need to clean up some of the turnovers and fouls. It was a really good game and feel really bad that we didn't win."
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After each team missed their first couple opening offensive possessions, it was the Catamounts that pounced on the scoreboard first when Noah Barnett found Gus Yalden in the post, muscling his way up for his first basket of the game, gaining the 2-0 lead.
• Before the first media timeout, each team went back and forth going on an even 5-5 scoring run. TJ Hurley knocked down his first three pointer of the game while Momo Nkugwa recorded a put-back layup to earn the Catamounts a 7-5 advantage with 14:38 of the first half remaining.
• Sean Blake ignited a 9-4 scoring run, scoring six points in a row making two layups and a pair from the free-throw line. TJ Long added a three-pointer with 10:28 to go, using a step back crossover move to create space and swish the three ball. The Catamounts led 16-9.
• Yale answered, orchestrating a 10-3 scoring run led by eight points from Riley Fox as the score was knotted at 19-19 by the second media timeout with 7:47 remaining in the first half.
• A successful and-one play from Yale's Samson Aletan put the Bulldogs up 24-21 with 6:08 remaining in the first frame.
• Yalden responded with a one hand slam on the next possession, sending Patrick Gymnasium into a frenzy as Vermont came within one, 24-23.
• Hurley and Yalden combined for eight points to conclude the first half with Hurley making his second three-pointer of the game and Yalden making two layups and a free throw, but it was Yale that took a four-point advantage into halftime, 35-31.
• To open the second half, Yale got the first bucket, but Hurley sliced into the 4-0 scoring run with his third three-pointer of the game as the Bulldogs maintained the lead, 41-34.
• Each team went back-and-forth on an even 8-8 scoring run until the second media timeout of the final half. Blake added two layups for Vermont while Yalden and Long traded floaters from in the paint. Yale led 49-42 with 11:53 remaining of regulation.
• Vermont brought the game to within four with 8:20 remaining in the second half, getting points from Ben Michaels, Long, Yalden and three free-throws from Hurley as Yale led 55-51.
• Vermont tied the game with 5:48 remaining, 59-59, after Long drained a three-point shot while getting fouled, also executing on the free-throw to secure the four-point play.
• With 4:53 to go, Yalden splashed a corner three of his own, giving Vermont their first lead since the opening half, 62-61.
• Yale's Jordan Brathwaite and Hurley took turns drilling three-pointers with 4:17 on the clock as the Catamounts maintained the lead, 65-64.
• Three different Bulldogs scored amidst a 9-4 scoring run late in the second half, earning Yale the lead, 73-69, following a three-pointer from Fox with 1:38 remaining in regulation.
• Hurley connected on his fifth basket of the game with 1:07 remaining, driving hard to the paint and making is layup, bringing Vermont within two, 73-71.
• A Vermont turnover with 12 seconds of gametime remaining while trying to knot the score gave Yale free throw opportunities, ultimately making four free throws down the stretch to secure the win despite a late three-pointer from Long before the final buzzer rang. The Bulldogs walked away with the 77-74 victory.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Hurley scored his 1000th point on Sunday against Yale, totaling 19 points, two rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Hurley is the 41st Catamount in program history to enter the 1000-point club.
• Yalden led a team-high 22 points to go along with a season-high seven rebounds and one assist.
• Long dropped 18 points with three rebounds and one assist.
• Blake tied a game-high four assists while adding 10 points.
• Vermont outrebounded Yale 31 to 25. 

UP NEXT
The Catamounts get ready for their six-day road trip out West, preparing to face WCC member Oregon State on Wednesday (Dec. 3). Tip-off is slated for 9:30 p.m. ET. All the action will be broadcast live on ESPN+. The radio broadcast will available via the Varsity Network App with Brian McLaughlin on the call.
 
Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of 2025-26 Vermont Men's Basketball Season