Men’s Hoops: Huge Second Half Carries Bucknell Past Vermont 69-61

Posted on by George Commo

Courtesy Vermont Sports Information

BURLINGTON – In the first meeting between the programs at Patrick Gym, Bucknell walked away with a 69-61 win over Vermont on Sunday afternoon in non-conference action. The Catamounts slip to an even 3-3 on the year while the Bison improve to 2-2.

COACH’S QUOTE
“I thought it was a really physical game, probably the most physical game as far as bumping along the perimeter and holding,” Cioffi Men’s Basketball Head Coach John Becker said. “They made plays down the stretch so I give credit to Bucknell. I have to do a better job of helping our guys get some better opportunities but we will regroup and learn from it.”

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bison scored on their first two possessions but the Cats answered with a 11-4 run and held Bucknell scoreless over a six-minute stretch. The mid-major powers played to a low-scoring affair for most of the period but UVM slowly built a double-digit lead towards the end of the half. Leading 23-19, Vermont outscored Bucknell 9-1 over the final three minutes of the frame for a 32-20 advantage at the break.
Bucknell got back in the game with a 21-8 run and took a 41-40 lead at the 11:21 mark. The two teams traded baskets for most of the period until the Bison gained momentum in the late minutes. Bucknell built a two-possession lead with three minutes left to play. The Catamounts tried to chip away at the deficit, but the Bison shot 6-of-7 at the line down the stretch to seal the win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Ernie Duncan guided the Catamounts with a team-high 20 points and shot 6-of-9 from the floor. The redshirt senior also hit 5-of-6 attempts at the charity stripe.
Anthony Lamb followed with 13 points and nearly recorded a double-double with eight rebounds.
Stef Smith added 10 points and six assists.
WHO’S NEXT
Vermont will embark on a three-game road trip to the nation’s capital and Baltimore, starting with George Washington on Wednesday (Nov. 28). The opening tip is set for 7 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets are GWSports.com. The game will be streamed live 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 to the contest on 101.3 The Game and 1013TheGame.com with Jake Marsh on the call.