Men’s Hoops: Catamounts Open With 61-59 Win at St.Bonaventure

Posted on by George Commo

Courtesy Vermont Sports Information

OLEAN, N.Y. — Anthony Lamb posted a double-double and Everett Duncan scored 14 points as the Vermont men’s basketball team grinded out a 61-59 win at St. Bonaventure on Friday night in the season opener. The Catamounts have topped an Atlantic 10 team for the third consecutive year.

COACH’S QUOTE
“I expected this to be a choppy one but we found a way to win the game,” Cioffi Men’s Basketball Head Coach John Becker said. “It was a great team win in an awesome atmosphere and our games with the Bonnies always come down to the last possession or two.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Catamounts produced an early 12-5 lead in the opening five minutes, but the Bonnies responded with a 15-2 run and held a 20-14 advantage with eight minutes left in the half.
The non-league rivals traded scores for the rest of the period as UVM went into the break with a 28-24 lead.
The Cats and Bonnies continued to go back-and-forth through the early minutes of the second half but UVM gained some separation near the midway point. Trailing 40-39 at the 11:07 mark, the Green and Gold mounted an 11-3 run over a two-and-a-half-minute stretch for its largest advantage of the night and never relinquished the lead again.
However, SBU kept the game close in the final minutes. As Vermont held a 58-52 lead with 1:25 left on the clock, St. Bonaventure scored seven of the final 10 points of the game for the final margin of victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Lamb logged a double-double with a game-high 15 points and 10 rebounds. The senior also dished out three assists.
Duncan chipped in with 14 points including 9-11 from the free throw line.
Ryan Davis added eight points and six boards off the bench.
UVM has beaten an A-10 opponent in five out of its last six tries.
With the victory, the Cats Win, Community Wins campaign and Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Make-A-Wish Vermont; bringing this year’s total to 92 wins and $9,200.

WHO’S NEXT
Vermont will continue its season-opening road trip at Bucknell on Sunday (Nov. 10). The opening tip is set for 2 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase at Bucknell.UniversityTickets.com. Fans can catch the action for free on the Patriot League Network. Fans can also listen live on the Vermont Sports Network, from Learfield IMG College, on 101.3 The Game or online at Catamounts All-Access with Jake Marsh on the call.