Vermont vs NJIT 1/31/26

NJIT 79 Vermont 77

NJIT came to Patrick with a purpose and handed Vermont their second conference loss of the season. The Highlanders came out with swagger and energy and led wire to wire in an big time performance. Their relentless defensive pressure and physical play in the paint really put the Cats back on their heels. Since entering the league, the Highlanders have pretty consistently been a thorn in the Cats side. In the first half Vermont could not hit a shot as the offense screeched to a halt. Becker has mentioned repeatedly that he feels like they have been generating good shots for good shooters but have not been knocking them down. This game was another demonstration of that inexplicable trend as many of the shots missed were good looks. The second half was choppy and chippy as tensions rose. It felt like a Murphy's law game as the Cats just couldn't string together enough plays to gain momentum. When they finally did get some shots to fall, there was not enough time left to climb out of the hole. This group has proven that they play well with their backs against the wall and shown tremendous grit in coming back in tough situations. Unfortunately, they have struggled to play with that same intensity early in games. Teams are always gunning for the Catamounts and some of the new players are learning how physical and gritty America East play can be. The results through the first half have shown without a doubt that on any given night, anyone can beat anyone.

Sean Blake led the Cats with a career high 23 points and added 8 rebounds and 4 assists. He was electric in the second half trying to will the Cats back using his speed in the open court. TJ Hurley finally went cold in the first half before knocking some shots down in the hectic final minutes. Hurley finished with 16 points on 5-15 shooting from the field. Noah Barnett bounced back from a tough night on Thursday and matched NJIT's physicality and energy. Barnett finished with 12 points and shifted some momentum the Cats way. Gus Yalden was the only Catamount to score for the first ten minutes of the game but struggled after that and finished with 12 points and 7 rebounds before fouling out. Teams have made life really difficult for Yalden lately and he is shooting only 8/21 (38%) from two and 2/14 (14%) from three over the last three games. They are forcing him to catch the ball away from the paint and throwing double teams from all angles. Ben Johnson struggled, going 1/6 from three. TJ Long returned to the lineup and finished with 7 points on 3-7 shooting. Lucas Mari rolled his ankle early in the first half and did not return. The Cats really missed his size and rebounding. They just cannot shake the injury bug these past two years. 

A tough loss at home to finish the first half of the conference season. No rest for the wicked as the always daunting road trip to Orono awaits. 

BIG WIN!!!

Vermont 64 UMBC 55

Vermont used tough defense and clutch shot-making to take sole possession of first place in the America East, beating UMBC in front of a raucous Patrick Gym crowd. The first half was a back and forth affair with both teams feeling each other out. In the second half, the Cats defense really locked in and made life difficult for the high flying Retrievers offense. In the middle of the second half, Vermont had several chances to stretch the lead and put the game away but could not cash in. UMBC took advantage and went on a 11-3 spurt to tie the game at 51. The Cats responded with big threes from Ben Johnson and Lucas Mari and got the stops they needed to win the game. The defense was particularly impressive in this one as UMBC was held under 60 points for only the second time this season. The lowest they had scored during conference play was 69. The rotations were great and they held the Retrievers to 23% (6-26) shooting from three. They also forced UMBC to play quite a bit in isolation as they were only able to muster 7 assists in the game. Offensively, the Cats are still struggling to find consistency but made 11 threes and had 13 assists on 20 made baskets. The ball movement was great once again and everyone is looking to find the best shot. Huge win to start a decisive weekend in the early battle for first place in the America East. 

TJ Hurley stayed red hot, scoring 18 points on 7-11 shooting. He also grabbed 7 rebounds and played tremendous defense on DJ Armstrong Jr. He looks so in command on the court right now. Lucas Mari continued his breakout with 16 points and 6 rebounds. He scored 8 of those points down the stretch to put the game away including two beautiful corner threes. He has turned a corner in his adjustment to the college game and has been huge over the past week. Ben Johnson continues to impress in his starter role, finishing with 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. His three in response to UMBC tying the game was clutch. He also had a great block on a three point attempt in the second half. Sean Blake was incredible despite only taking 2 shots (and despite a tough night at the foul line). He finished with 5 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists and is making so many big plays. He has really found an incredible balance to his game and is running the offense with a strong presence. Gus Yalden struggled to get going, shooting 2-13 from the field. Teams are really throwing a lot at him defensively and forcing him to catch the ball away from the paint. He is battling and scored 8 points while more crucially dishing out 5 assists. Even when he is struggling to score he is opening up the offense with his screening and punishing the extra defensive attention with his passing. Ben Michaels continues to provide tough defense and finally got a shot to go down. 

Huge momentum and confidence builder going into another showdown with second place NJIT on Saturday. Can't wait!

Vermont at Bryant 1/24/26

Vermont 62 Bryant 52

In an absolute grinder of a game, Vermont made clutch shots down the stretch and finished a very tough week on the road at 2-1. In the first half, Bryant was barley functional on offense, only making three shots. Unfortunately Vermont struggled to pull away and put Bryant on the line which kept the Bulldogs in the game. In the second half, Vermont looked like they might pull away but their offense then came to a screeching halt and Bryant finally found some room on offense. Like in many games for the Cats this season, it came down to which team was going to execute and make the big shots down the stretch. Vermont made plays in the crucial moments and came out with a win. The defense for Vermont was good and forced Bryant into really tough shots at the end of the shot clock for much of the game. Unfortunately the Cats continue to put other teams on the line too often and it makes it tough to put teams away. Becker spoke this week about the fact that this is the first conference play experience for many of the newcomers and how fierce the battles get regardless of record. This game was a good example of how important it is to put teams away because the emotion and energy can turn on a dime in these hotly contested games. Offensively, the shot making continues to come and go over the past few months. They are still getting good shots, they just aren't not falling. Stills feels like there is some room there. Despite the shooting difficulties, the ball movement was excellent with 13 assists on 19 made baskets and the Cats pulled down 16 offensive boards while winning the battle 40-30 overall. At several big moments, the offensive rebounding was key and broke the Bulldogs spirit. They continue to take good care of the ball with only 6 turnovers. A good "find a way" win in a tough environment at the end of a long week. 

TJ Hurley stayed hot with a Herculean effort down the stretch. He finished with 26 points to follow up his career high 30 on Thursday. This feels like that senior bump as he ready's make one last run as a Catamount. Watching the game slow down for him in real time (not that he has ever been in a hurry) at a different level than in the past is so cool. Great decision making and finding the right spots to attack. Incredible heater going 18/35 (51%) from the field, 9/20 (45%) from three, and 11-12 (92%, which oddly enough drops his percentage) from the line over the the two games. All while being hounded by the defense. Star. Gus Yalden was the other Catamount in double figures with 14 points. He struggled to get going in this one and has actually cooled off quite a bit from three (2-12 over the last 3 games). But shooters shoot and he made the big three to give the Cats some breathing room before making a great read on the very next play to get Hurley a wide open look to put the game away. Sean Blake finished with 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in a solid all around effort. Lucas Mari was good again off the bench, finishing with 5 points and 7 rebounds. Ben Michaels didn't score and continues to struggle to find his offense, but pulled down 9 boards and led the charge on the offensive glass with 4. Ben Johnson is averaging 29.5 minutes per game since TJ Long's injury and continues to give solid veteran minutes. I have to give him a shout out for the fact that he has only turned the ball over 4 times all season. Crazy. I like to call that the Everett Duncan award (look up his insane low turnover numbers). Noah Barnett's return gives that Cats a level up both on the boards and the defensive end. 

Now a short break before a big showdown in an early battle for first place with UMBC. Patrick better be rocking!!

TJ HURLEY

Vermont 77 UMass Lowell 68

TJ Hurley scored a career high 30 points and led the Cats to victory on the road over UMass Lowell. It was a strong bounce back effort from the Catamounts who answered every call and played well on both sides of the ball. The first half was nip and tuck to start before Vermont closed the half with a mini run and went up 11. They continued to keep the River Hawks at bay early in the second half. Then a Lowell run cut the lead to one with 13 minutes left. Vermont responded with a big time 12-0 run to take control. They were able to close out strong and pick up the win. The energy was good from the start and the Cats looked engaged for the full 40 minutes. Vermont dominated points in the paint 40-24 and forced 14 Lowell turnovers. The Cats were able to capitalize by scoring 19 points off turnovers. It as a great response to the tough loss on Monday and you could see a more focused group, making the right play and making the extra pass. Becker switched to the 1-3-1 zone and completely stalled the Lowell offense in the final stretch. 

Hurley was electric, scoring at every level and asserting himself on the offensive end. He knocked down 5 threes and was deadly from the mid-range. It was great to see him take charge and look to score a bit more, knowing he needed to be more aggressive with TJ Long out. Gus Yalden battled foul trouble and finished with 14 points and 8 rebounds. He was excellent in this game opening the floor up for his teammates with his passing and screening. A big part of the game deciding run was the best stretch of Lucas Mari's young Catamount career. Mari was all over the court, forcing steals and grabbing rebounds on defense, while being aggressive on offense and attacking the rim with authority. He finished with 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals while playing with incredible energy. It is not an exaggeration to say that he singlehandedly shifted the momentum. He also provided a calm presence running the offense. Monster second half, punctuated by two huge dunks. Ben Johnson scored 10 points and pulled down 5 rebounds. He scored on a couple beautiful turnaround jumpers in the lane and attacked closeouts well. Sean Blake chipped in 8 points and made some tough shots while Vermont was putting the game away. Noah Barnett returned and made an impact with his physicality and energy.

Great win and nice momentum heading into the match-up at Bryant on Saturday.

Vermont at Albany 1/19/26

Albany 75 Vermont 68

Albany used a big burst in the second half to beat Vermont for the first time in five years. It was the Cats first conference loss and in a similar fashion to their last two games, they got down big in the second half before clawing their way back. This time the didn't have quite enough to get over the hump. Albany played a great game and after a tough and challenging non conference schedule is playing great basketball since Abdoulaye Fall returned from injury at the start of conference play. The Great Danes forced the Cats into 13 turnovers and capitalized at the other end. It was a game of big runs and momentum swings as each team went on multiple double digit scoring runs. Vermont's defense struggled for much of the game but dug in late to get them back in the game. Unfortunately their defensive rebounding (normally their very best skill) let them down and gave Albany extra possessions during the Cats comeback. Vermont is still looking for that 40 minutes of locked in play as both sides of the ball have been coming and going for stretches over the past few weeks. Again they showed great poise and grit in getting back into the game but need a way to find that same level of intensity earlier in the contest. 

Gus Yalden led the Cats with 21 points and 8 rebounds in a nice bounce back effort. The coaching staff continues to look for ways to maximize his offensive impact and stop teams from taking advantage of him in pick and roll at the defensive end. TJ Hurley finished with 15 points and 5 rebounds but struggled with his efficiency, shooting 4-13 from the field. Albany's defense forced him into some lower percentage mid-range shots and did a good job limiting his opportunities at the rim. Ben Johnson finished with 12 points in his second start. Sean Blake finished with 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists but missed some easy ones in big spots. Ben Michaels finished with 2 points and 6 rebounds. The bench did not play many minutes in this one and they did not have the same impact hey have had in the last few games. 

A tough start to a tough week as the Cats prepare for UMass Lowell on Thursday night. 

Vermont vs Maine 1/15/26

Vermont 67 Maine 62

Vermont went on a 15-0 run to battle back and take control in their revenge game against Maine. The first half was full of back and forth action with neither team able to pull away. Maine was hot from three to start and limited the Cats opportunities from distance. Maine came out swinging in the second half, pounding the ball inside and getting out in transition. They built a 12 point lead at 49-37 and things were looking bleak. The Cats clawed their way back thanks to dynamic play from Sean Blake, hot shooting from three, and tough defense. They held Maine without a basket for 11 minutes (13:06-2:06) in a monster team effort. Vermont closed the game out at the free throw line and secured the win. The injury bug continues to plague the Cats with TJ Long joining the injured list. Vermont's depth really showed as the players that were called upon to play bigger roles really stepped up. The Cats blocked 9 shots and held Maine to 36% shooting. They also out-rebounded Maine 37-29 in a gritty, physical effort. 

TJ Hurley led the way with 18 points. He was so good around the rim and kicked off the run with a three pointer. Sean Blake was spectacular, finishing with 17 points and 6 assists. After some early turnovers, he locked in and didn't turn the ball over in the second half. He was dynamic both finishing at the rim and executing the drive and kick. He also finished 7-7 from the line helping to ice the game. Ben Johnson got the start due to Long's injury and had his best game as a Catamount. Johnson finished with 14 points and 4 rebounds while playing scrappy, physical defense as Maine tried to take advantage of him on switches. He came up with big plays and none were bigger than finding David Simon in the corner for the go ahead three. Huge performance by Johnson. Gus Yalden has his first tough game at Vermont, finishing 3-11 from the field for 8 points. He did pull down a career high 11 rebounds and block 2 shots but was visibly frustrated on the bench in the second half. He is a passionate guy and I have to give him a lot of credit for powering through and hitting a huge three to give the Cats some breathing room with about a minute left. Ben Michaels played incredible defense on Maine's leading scorer TJ Biel, blocking 2 shots, and had a massive put back dunk during the game deciding run. Simon finished with 3 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 blocks and was a big part of the momentum shift in the second half. Lucas Mari played 22 minutes off the bench and finished with 3 points and 7 rebounds. He had a beautiful assist to Momo Nkugwa for a three point play that really got Patrick rocking. Nkugwa also has a massive, almost skywalking rebound in a big spot during the decisive run. 

This was a big win before a very tough week next week. The schedule makers did the Cats no favors with a compressed three game road week. Monday at Albany, Thursday at UMass Lowell, and Saturday at Bryant. That is about as tough as it gets. Nice to get some momentum before being tested. 

Vermont vs Binghamton 1/8/26

Vermont 60 Binghamton 59

Did you miss it? 

Defensive grind is back!!

In a slow and sluggish game Vermont was able to survive and win their conference home opener over Binghamton. Jeremiah Quigley was spectacular for Binghamton with a near triple double, but was unable to carry them all the way. The Bearcats were in command fro much of the night, controlling the tempo and slowing the game to a snails crawl. Neither offense could gain any traction as the defenses set the tone. The Bearcats held Vermont to only 15 attempts from three, by far their fewest of the season. Vermont countered by dominating points in the paint (28-12) and winning the rebounding battle. With four minutes to go, Binghamton went up by six and things were looking grim. The Catamount defense came to the rescue and Vermont finished the game on a 9-2 run to eek out the win. Old school Vermont victory. The free throw shooting was *cough* abysmal at 13-24 (54%) and the game ended with a strange missed free throws/halfcourt heave anticlimax. Conference play is quite the rollercoaster. Both teams are dealing with significant injuries and Vermont spent almost the entire second half without Gus Yalden as he continues to battle some calf(?) injuries. The Cats that were called upon stepped up in big spots and showcased the Vermont "next man up" mentality. 

I will begin with the end. Momo Nkugwa saved Vermont with a spectacular final four minutes which featured tough battles on the boards, 6 of his 8 points, and the game winning free throws. He was incredible and showed poise beyond his years. Clutch. Jackson Skipper also has some big moments, hitting clutch free throws and coming up with a huge block on the defensive end. Skipper finished with 5 points and 5 rebounds in 20 minutes. Ben Michaels stepped in for the injured Yalden and finished with 8 points and 3 rebounds in 24 minutes. Big day for the bench crew. Yalden was the only Catamount in double figures, finishing with 15 points and 5 rebounds. He kept the Cats in the game in the first half with two big threes. Sean Blake finished with 9 points and Lucas Mari chipped in 7 points. TJ Hurley had the game saving block and dished out 6 assists to offset only scoring 3 points. TJ Long struggled to knock down shots but pulled down 9 rebounds to go along with 3 points. Better days are ahead for the TJs but they showed how to impact the game even when not at their best. 

Now the Cats get a week off to hopefully get fully healthy before welcoming Maine to Patrick. Vermont is ready for a little payback after the Black Bears ended their season last year.