Courtesy Vermont Sports Information
LEWISBURG, Pa. –– Ryan Davis registered his first career double-double and Anthony Lamb tallied 20 points as Vermont (2-0) held off Bucknell (1-1) for a 66-63 road victory on Sunday afternoon at Sojka Pavilion. The Catamounts win ensured a sweep of the season-opening two-game road trip.
COACH’S QUOTE
“We have a lot to work on offensively, but we found a way to get the win,” said Cioffi Men’s Basketball Head Coach John Becker. “Defensively, Everett Duncan was tremendous and Anthony Lamb came alive for us offensively in the second half. As a team, we hung in there made the plays we had to on the defensive end.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
Bucknell nabbed an early 11-2 lead through the opening six minutes but the Catamounts clawed back as Davis dropped seven points to help tie the game at 17-17 before the midway point of the first half.
Vermont took its first lead of the game when Duncan Demuth drained a corner three to go up 25-24. John Meeks helped Bucknell erase the deficit and grab a 35-32 lead before halftime.
The Green & Gold and Bison exchanged baskets early in the second half and eventually took its first lead of the frame with 14:55 remaining. Lamb’s jumper tied the game at 40-40, which he followed up with two more free throws for the lead. UVM was ahead by as many as seven points with 7:10 left on the clock, but Bucknell pulled within one with 3:26 remaining in the game.
Lamb drilled his lone three-pointer of the afternoon at the 2:34 mark as the Catamounts seized the lead for the final time. The Bison had possession with 26 seconds left, down by one, but Meeks stepped out of bounds to cause a key turnover.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Lamb racked up a game-high 20 points in 18 minutes of action as the senior ran into foul trouble early in the first half. The captain shot 7-of-15 from the floor and picked up three boards.
Davis recorded his double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, including five offensive boards.
Ben Shungu and Everett Duncan also reached double-figures with 10 points apiece. Shungu added seven boards with six coming on defense. Everett Duncan shot 3-for-5 from the floor and nailed four free throws for the Catamounts.
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 95 wins and $9,500.
UP NEXT
Vermont returns to action against Boston University on Wednesday (Nov. 13) at 7 p.m. in the regular season home opener. The home opener is also Military Appreciation Night, presented by Milton Cat. All military personnel and their families will receive tickets at a discounted rate. Please contact the UVM Athletics Ticket Office at 802-656-4410 to purchase your discounted tickets. Tickets for general public can be bought at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or at the Patrick Gym Box Office on gameday. Wednesday’s game will be streamed on ESPN+. 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.