Vermont 71 Stony Brook 57
It feels good to be home.
Vermont came out strong and put themselves in the drivers seat for the regular season title. To knock off a Stony Brook team that was on a 5 game winning streak that included a win over previously undefeated and #13 in the country Washington is a major statement. To dominate the game from start to finish and look like the more experienced and seasoned team is nothing short of exceptional. Vermont avoided having on of their trademark slow starts and made play after play to keep Stony Brook at arms length throughout the game. Warney got his points and looked like the most dominant player in the league. However no one else on Stony Brook made any sort of impact on the game. Vermont's perimeter defense cut off driving lanes and prevented Stony Brook from taking shots from three. Dre Wills was a disruptive force on the defensive side of the ball and continues to shut down the opposing team's best perimeter scorer. On offense Wills was absolutely fearless and finished strong around the rim. The whole team seems to feed off his energy on the court and he is fast becoming the glue that holds this team together. Drew Urquhart is finally ahead of Ryan Pierson on the depth chart. I have been waiting for this moment all season. It seemed like it was going to happen a few times before but this time it looks like it might stick. Drew U has the talent but the year away from game action has been tough to overcome. He struggled to get out of the doghouse and make positive plays on the court. In this game he played tough defense on Warney and showcased his offensive skills. The three was beautiful, but the pump fake three, drive, get his own rebound, and putback was even better. He could add a different dimension to this team if he can consistently make the right decision on the court. Ethan O'Day played his best game of the year by far. It was his best game of the year because he had NINE REBOUNDS. NINE! He battled tough and finally got on the boards. His entire offensive array was on display and he made his free throws. He had been looking better and better over the last few games and it showed today as he looked more confident with the ball. Everyone who played in the game had a positive affect on the outcome. Brandon Hatton had a great steal and hit a beautiful runner. Cam Ward hit a deeeeeeeeep three. Kurt Steidl hit some big shots and made his free throws. Zach McRoberts had a couple nice rebounds. Hector Harold hit some beautiful shots and came up with every big rebound down the stretch. Last but certainly not least, Trae Bell-Haynes led the team with 8 assists while finishing at the rim in traffic. This was a true team effort and a true team win. The poise with which the young players on Vermont play is tremendous. From the fan perspective every game is seems like Vermont remains more composed and plays smarter than the competition. That is unheard of for such a young team. This team is way ahead of schedule and if they can remain healthy they will certainly be in the conversation for the title.
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