Courtesy Vermont Sports Information
HAMDEN, Conn. – For the first time since 1990-91, the Catamounts scored over 90 points in a season opener on their way to a 94-70 win on Saturday afternoon at Quinnipiac University. Vermont had four players reach double figures in the non-conference victory.
Vermont starts the season off with a 1-0 mark and snapped a three-game skid on opening day. Quinnipiac drops its second straight season opener and begins the new campaign with an 0-1 record.
The Cats shot an impressive 61.1% (33-for-54) from the floor and scored 28 points in the paint. UVM showed depth on the bench as 26 points came from the reinforcements.
Anthony Lamb tallied a game-high 23 points and nearly recorded a double-double with nine rebounds in his first collegiate game for the Catamounts. Payton Henson also had a solid afternoon in his debut wearing the green and gold. Henson added 19 points on 5-of-7 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds off the glass. Lamb and Henson combined to shoot 14-of-16 from the free throw line.
Trae Bell-Haynes used a balanced attack with 16 points and dished away a game-high eight assists. Ernie Duncan contributed 13 points and sank a trio of three-pointers.
Quinnipiac also had four players chart double digits. Reggie Oliver led the Bobcats with 15 points. Chaise Daniels followed with 11 points while Daniel Harris and Phil Winston registered 10 points apiece.
In the opening period, the Catamounts held the Bobcats to only 30.3% (10-of-33) shooting from the floor. The two squads traded baskets in the first eight minutes but Vermont built a double digit lead with a 14-5 run in a six-minute span. UVM manufactured a 12-2 run in the final 3:43 of the half and went into the locker room with a 43-25 advantage.
The Cats kept the momentum rolling in the second half and pushed the lead to as many as 30 points. The Bobcats made a small run and trimmed UVM’s advantage down to a 22-point lead but Vermont’s play was just too much. The Catamounts recorded seven of the team’s nine steals in the second period.
Vermont plays part two of a three-game road trip on Monday (Nov. 14) at Big East power Providence in the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The primetime matchup will tip-off at 7 p.m. All UVM men’s basketball games can be heard on ESPN 101.3 FM and online at 1013ESPN.com with Sam Hyman on the call. The game will be televised live on Fox Sports 2 (FS2). FS2 is located on DirecTV channel 618 and Dish Network channel 149. The game will also be streamed on Fox Sports Go by logging in with your local television provider.