Men’s Hoops: Catamounts Roll to Exhibition Win over SMC

Courtesy Vermont and St. Michael’s Sports Information

BURLINGTON — Five Catamounts reached double figures as Vermont defeated crosstown foe St. Michael’s 84-48 in its final exhibition contest of the 2019-20 season on Sunday afternoon at Patrick Gym.

COACH’S QUOTE
“Overall, tonight was a good effort and it was good to get some guys out there like Anthony Lamb and Ryan Davis,” Cioffi Men’s Basketball Head Coach said. “Aaron Deloney played like we expected him to play – he attacked their pressure and made really good decisions.”

HOW IT HAPPENED
UVM took a 31-17 lead through the midway point of the first half as Everett Duncan paced the Catamounts’ offense with eight points. Kasai Brown had six points for the Purple Knights through the first 10:11 of the game.
Stef Smith helped the Green & Gold extend the lead with a pair of threes in the final 9:49 of the opening period. Davis added seven points in the final 1:19 before halftime as the Cats took a 55-22 lead into the locker room.
Vermont and St. Mike’s exchanged baskets in the first 12 minutes of the second half as the Catamounts outscored the Purple Knights 13-12.
Eric Beckett, Bailey Patella, and Isaiah Powell supplied the offense in the late stages of the game as UVM outpaced St. Mike’s 29-26 in the closing minutes.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Davis had a game-high 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field. The sophomore hit 1-of-3 attempts from behind the arc and pulled down five rebounds for the Catamounts.
Smith tallied 13 points in 14 minutes of action. The junior also dished out three assists and logged three steals.
Deloney played a team-high 29 minutes and registered 10 points with six assists.
Duncan and Patella rounded out the Cats in double figures with 10 points apiece.

Senior Jordan Guzman led the Purple Knights with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals, while First-year Kasai Brown added 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block, and a steal and Senior and Essex High grad Eli DiGrande chipped in 9 points, 8 rebounds and a steal.

UP NEXT
Vermont opens the regular season at St. Bonaventure on Friday (Nov. 8) at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase through the St. Bonaventure Box Office. Friday’s game will be streamed on ESPN+. Fans can access ESPN+ with a seven-day free trial, followed by a subscription fee of $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, with the ability to cancel at any time. 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.

St. Michaels returns to action Friday against Caldwell (N.J.) University during the Assumption College Tip-Off Classic.