Men’s Hoops: Catamounts Roar Past Stony Brook 73-52

Courtesy Vermont Sports Information

STONY BROOK, NY. –– Ernie Duncan had a game-high 25 points and Everett Duncan scored a career-high 20 points as the Vermont men’s basketball team reclaimed first place in America East handing Stony Brook their first conference loss of the season 73-52 Saturday night at Island Federal Arena. The Catamounts are now 16-5 overall and 6-1 in league play, the Seawolves fall to 17-3 overall and 5-1 in conference.

COACH’S QUOTE
“Great win tonight on the road against a good Stony Brook team,” Cioffi Men’s Basketball Head Coach John Becker said. “Duncan brothers were terrific. Sammy and Ra gave us great minutes. Physical, tough game and our guys stayed the course. Great way to go into the bye.”

HOW IT HAPPENED
Ernie Duncan had nine points in the opening eight minutes as the Seawolves and Catamounts were knotted at 11 7:23 into the first half.
Over the next four minutes Stony Brook went on an 10-2 run to seize a 21-13 advantage.
In the final 8:10 of the first half the Catamounts outscored Stony Brook 22-4 to take a commanding 10-point lead into the locker room. Ryan Davis had five points over that stretch for Vermont including his first career three-pointer. 14 of the Catamounts 22 points to end the half came from a Duncan brother.
Vermont’s momentum carried into the second half as UVM extended its advantage with a 12-3 run, taking a 47-28 lead with 16:15 left in regulation.
The Seawolves were able to cut the Vermont lead to 12 on two separate occasions but Vermont had an answer each time. With four minutes left Vermont’s lead was 62-50, the Catamounts finished the game on a 11-2 run to seal their sixth straight victory against the Stony Brook.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
The Catamounts have now won an America East record 22-straight road games.
UVM is now 5-0 after a loss this season, their average margin of victory in those five bounce back efforts is 25.2 points.
Since the start of the 2016-17 campaign Vermont is 22-1 against teams from the state of New York.
Vermont is now 4-0 this season when wearing their gold uniforms.
Samuel Dingba (7 Pts, 11 Reb.) finished three points shy of a double-double but had his second double digit rebounding game in the last three games.
The Catamounts drew 25 fouls in the game, UVM was 20-for-30 from the free throw line.
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 17 wins and $1,700.
WHO’S NEXT
Vermont will travel to face UMass Lowell on Saturday (Feb. 2) at 5:30 p.m. as the Catamounts begin the second half of America East play. All of the action can be seen on ESPN3and the WatchESPN app by logging in with your television provider. Fans can also listen to the game on 101.3 The Game and 1013TheGame.com with Jake Marsh on the call.