Vermont 85 Hofstra 81
Sorry for the long layoff. I never got around to recapping the Stony Brook game but I am back!
Vermont played tough on the road against a very good Hofstra team and got a win in the first round of the CBI. No matter what level of postseason play, it is a great experience for this young team to be playing this time of year. To win the way that Vermont won is even more impressive. Vermont led the entire game and each time Hofstra made it close, Vermont was able to respond. They forced Hofstra to take contested threes all night and had their way on the offensive end. Vermont again struggled at the free throw line which made it interesting down the stretch, but they were able to come up with enough plays to win. Becker played this game to win but at the same time let the young guys play more minutes and tinkered with some different lineups. The bench mob stepped up in a big way and looked confident on the court. Drew Urquhart continues to improve and I believe he will be the player that makes a significant sophomore jump next season. Zach McRoberts also played a very good game, setting a new career high with 13 points. It is tough to remain focused after a week off and Vermont came out strong from the opening tip. The most impressive aspect of the game for Vermont was the quick and decisive ball movement. I don't know if it was a product of Hofstra's poor defense or the 30 second shot clock (or both), but it was the best I have seen the Cats move the ball all year. Vermont passed the ball efficiently and seemed to be in attack mode for the full 40 minutes. They didn't settle for threes and really pounded the ball inside. Now they await their next opponent and there is a chance that they might host the game. It would be great to see them make a bit of a run in this tournament because it would give them a great boost going into next season.
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