Courtesy Vermont Sports Information
LOWELL, Mass. – For the second time this season, UMass Lowell scored 90+ points on the Vermont men’s basketball team and dealt the Catamounts a disappointing road loss Monday night at the Costello Athletic Center, 100-93. UVM falls to 14-12 and 6-5 in league play while the Riverhawks improve to 9-15 and 5-6 in conference action.
Six Catamounts scored in double-figures – the first time that has happened since 2012 – led by Kurt Steidl’s 15 points and six rebounds. Trae Bell-Haynes and Ernie Duncan each scored 14 points and Bell-Haynes dished out a team-high six assists. Ethan O’Day scored 10 points and hauled in nine rebounds to go along with three blocks.
The Riverhawks were paced by Jahad Thomas and the conference’s Rookie of the Week, Isaac White. Thomas pumped in 27 points and nine rebounds and White had 24 due in large part to 5-of-8 shooting from downtown. Lowell shot 57.8% for the game.
Vermont started the game making eight of its first nine shots and built a 10-point lead about midway through the first half. O’Day found the touch from the inside before Dre Wills connected on two straight driving layups – the latter bucket giving his team a 39-29 lead at the 5:46 mark of the first half.
UMass Lowell closed the half on a 20-7 run, though, erasing the 10-point deficit and taking a 49-46 lead into the locker room. Mark Cornelius hit a fadeaway jumper as time expired to cap off the run.
Vermont shot 83.3% from the floor in the first 20 minutes and only missed four shots but committed 10 turnovers leading to 19 Riverhawk points.
The Catamounts struggled offensively to star the second half missing their first three shots but held their opponents at bay defensively to eventually tie the score at 55-all. A Cam Ward layup at the 10:21 mark gave the Cats a two-point lead and after the Riverhawks tied the game, a pair of TBH free throws gave Vermont it’s final lead of the game, 70-68 with eight minutes to go.
From there, it was all UMass Lowell. A 12-1 run over the next two minutes and change gave UML an 80-71 lead it would not relinquish.
Vermont will next play at Patrick Gym on Valentine’s Day against Hartford in a Rally Against Cancer game presented by Otter Creek Awnings and Vermont Custom Closets. Tipoff vs. the Hawks is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the Catamounts will wear special edition pink jerseys. A free live stream will be available via AmericaEast.TV and local radio coverage starts at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN 101.3 FM with AJ Kanell and Bernie Cieplicki calling the action.