BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont men's basketball will begin the America East – Metro Challenge Thursday (Nov. 5) at Leo D. Mahoney Arena in Fairfield, Conn. The tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and will be live on ESPN+. The radio broadcast is also available via the Varsity Network App  with Brian McLaughlin.
 
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VERMONT OUTLOOK

• Vermont is coming off a 56-55 loss against Iona on Monday night. Gus Yalden had a team-high 17 points. 
• Catamounts rank 60^th in the country in scoring defense.
• Momo Nkugwa recorded a career-high 12 points against Iona.
• John Broom notched a career-high 11 rebounds on Monday night.
• Vermont was selected as the league favorite in the 2026-27 America East Preseason Poll after finishing with a (22-12, 12-4 AE) record last season. The Catamounts received seven first-place votes and scored 62 points in the poll.
• Gus Yalden received a Preseason All-Conference honor after earning America East Newcomer of the Year and All-Conference First Team. The Appleton, Wisconsin native averaged 16.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and shot 50.7% from the field last season.

SCOUTING THE STAGS

• This will be Fairfield's first game of the season. They lost an exhibition game to Fordham at home 79-62 on Oct. 24.
• Fairfield is coming off a 21-13 season last year. They fell to Siena in the MAAC Semifinals 76-61.
• The Stags were ranked 7^th nationally in offensive rebounds per game pulling down 13.9 offensive rebounds a contest.
• This is the 12^h time Vermont has faced off against Fairfield. Fairfield leads the all-time series 9-2.
• The Stags were picked to finish 1^st in the Metro Preseason Poll.
• Fairfield returns Sophomore Guard/Forward Declan Wucherpfennig who earned Preseason Player of the Year and unanimous Preseason All-Metro First Team honors. He scored 12.1 points per game and ranked second in the league – first among returning Metro players – with 8.5 rebounds per contest. 

Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of 2025-26 Vermont Men's Basketball Season
 
For more news about the Vermont men's basketball program, follow @UVMmbb on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.