Vermont 80 Binghamton 55
And just like that, the Cats are back in first.
Vermont picked up a big road win, dominating the Bearcats on both ends of the floor and moving into the pole position in the America East conference standings. The offensive explosion continued in the first half with Vermont getting open looks at will. The movement, passing, and flow of the offense has really kicked up a notch over the last few games. The chemistry is coming together and it is a good lesson in how much time it takes to acclimate to new teammates and new roles. In the second half the defense took over and Vermont never looked back. This team is showing shades of last years team as the offensive tweaks pay dividends during conference play. Another efficient performance with 17 assists to only 5 turnovers and 12-26 (46%) from three. Winning on the road in conference is hard no matter the opponent as evidenced by UMBC and Lowell dropping games to teams in the bottom half of the league tonight. It is going to be crucial to secure home court this season as several teams have some pretty stark home/road splits. The last few games have showcased the heart of this team and the value of playing a difficult schedule. They are ready for the ups and downs of the season and have really demonstrated that with their play over the last few games.
Finn Sullivan continued his hot streak, leading the Cats with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Throw in 2 steals and a block and you have another fantastic performance from Sullivan. He is finally asserting himself throughout the game and blending his team first mentality with confidence to take his turn. Dylan Penn has found his groove for the Cats as well. After struggling on defense for much of the season he has been very impactful on that end over the last two games. Engaged and using his quickness to disrupt passing lanes, while getting physical on the ball. He has also showcased the hooks and flips that make him so tough to stop on offense, finishing tonight's game with 18 points. A good reminder that all that time he missed due to injury set him back a bit. Matt Veretto finished with 14 points and was a big beneficiary of the slick passing from the Cats. He does a great job of catching in traffic and getting the ball up to the rim quickly. TJ Hurley and Aaron Deloney provided perimeter shooting off the bench combining to go 5-6 from three. As always and rock steady as ever, Robin Duncan finished with 8 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and zero turnovers. Ileri Ayo-Faleye continues to give Vermont tremendous minutes and is fast becoming a menace on the defensive end.
Now that Vermont has climbed back to the top, they are once again going to be the hunted. Getting to play these last few games as the hunter has been great and something the Vermont team doesn't get to do very often. Another big showdown with UMBC looms on Saturday. I will be out of town this weekend so I will not be able to watch the game live and won't be able to give a recap. Enjoy the game!
