FINAL SCORE: Vermont 66, Merrimack 59
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Noah Barnett scored a career high 16 points while adding two steals, helping propel Vermont (7-5) over Merrimack (6-7) 66-59 on Sunday afternoon from Patrick Gymnasium during the team's annual Youth Day presented by Healthy Living.
 
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COACH'S QUOTE
"Great win today against a good Merrimack team that's always hard to play against with that 2-3 zone they play. I thought we did a good job of generating shots. I told the guys that's why defense wins games. Really pleased with the defense over the last two games. I think Sean Blake has made really good strides on both sides of the ball and I thought that was one of Noah Barnett's best games as a Catamount."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Noah Barnett won the opening tip-off for UVM to get things started, resulting in Gus Yalden scoring his first basket on Vermont's first possession 31 seconds in, scooping an offensive rebound and finding the bank shot to give the Catamounts the opening 2-0 advantage.
• Before the first media timeout at 15:40, Sean Blake led an 8-4 scoring run in favor of UVM to take a 10-4 advantage into the break, executing on two tough layups. Noah Barnett and Yalden also added buckets for Vermont.
• TJ Long extended Vermont's lead to nine points with 11:34 remaining in the first half when he drilled a heavily contested three pointer in front of the Merrimack bench, giving Vermont the 17-8 advantage.
• Ben Johnson sliced into a 5-0 scoring run by Merrimack with 8:22 left in the opening frame, cashing in on his first three-pointer of the game after an offensive rebound from Lucas Mari allowed the Catamounts to use excellent ball movement to find him. With the three, Johnson scored his 1000th basket, becoming the second Catamount this season to reach the milestone. Vermont led 20-13.
• The Catamounts capped off the first half on a 10-8 scoring run, highlighted by an emphatic dunk from Barnett, getting the foul and making the extra point free-throw attempt in the process. Johnson finished the scoring in the first frame, drilling a corner three in front of the Merrimack bench, his second of the contest as Vermont went into halftime ahead by nine, 30-21.
• Vermont jumped out to a 41-27 lead with 15:27 left in the second half, opening the second frame on an 11-6 scoring run seeing Yalden make two layups and Barnett making five free throws including an and-one layup.
• TJ Hurley scored his first bucket of the game with 10:37 left to play, drilling a deep three-pointer to maintain UVM's double digit lead, 48-38.
• The Warriors came back to within single digits with 10:08 on the clock, seeing Ernest Shelton execute on a layup as the Catamounts still led, 48-40.
• Barnett brought the Patrick Gymnasium crowd to their feet with 7:50 to play, rocking the rim with a two-hand jam after being fed by Blake, gaining Vermont a 52-40 advantage.
• Before the final media timeout with 3:54 remaining of action, Merrimack was able to orchestrate a 12-3 scoring run, getting baskets from five different Warriors to bring the contest to within three points, 55-52 in favor of Vermont.
• Back-to-back made turn around jump shots from Long propelled the Catamounts to a 60-54 lead as a timeout was taken with 1:25 left on the clock.
• Long scored the Catamounts' last six points to wrap up the game as UVM defeated Merrimack 66-59 at home to win their first game of a three-game homestand.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Barnett played a career high 32 minutes and earned a career high 16 points, making four of his six shots from the field and making a career high eight of his 10 free throw opportunities. Barnett grabbed five rebounds on Sunday, including four offensive rebounds which ties a career high for the fourth time.
• Barnett also tallied two steals, tying a career high for the third time.
• Yalden matched a season high seven rebounds, corralling five offensive rebounds which marks a season high. Yalden also totaled 10 points and one block.
• Blake shot six-for-seven from the field, scoring 14 points and while adding a team high five assists and bringing down four rebounds.
• Long scored 13 points while adding four rebounds and two steals.
• Johnson scored his 1000th career point on Sunday against Merrimack, scoring six points on two three-pointers while also grabbing a season high five rebounds.
• UVM outrebounded Merrimack 34-28, corralling the fifth most rebounds in a game this season.
• Vermont recorded nine assists to Merrimack's eight and had two less turnovers than the Warriors, conceding seven to Merrimack's nine.
• The Catamounts had 28 points in the paint to the Warriors' 24.
• With today's Win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to the Lund Family Center through the Cat's Win, Community Win's initiative. Vermont Mutual has donated over $5 Million Dollars since launching their Charitable Giving Fund in 2014.

 
UP NEXT
Following the win over Merrimack, the Catamounts have three days to prepare for their second game of a three game homestand, getting set to face MAAC foe Seina on Wednesday (Dec. 7) from Patrick Gymnasium. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. and 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