How Vermont basketball erased big deficit to topple Maine

Vermont basketball staged a second-half comeback on the strength of its 3-point makes while Maine went cold from the floor as the Catamounts seized a 67-62 America East Conference victory in front of 2,202 at Patrick Gym on Thursday, Jan. 15.

Gus Yalden, despite an off shooting night, sank a dagger 3-pointer with 1 minute, 18 seconds to play as the Catamounts improved to 11-7 overall and 3-0 in league play. Vermont uncorked a 20-1 run in the second half to erase a double-digit lead, and the visiting Black Bears (3-16, 1-3) went 11:01 without a field goal in the game’s most crucial stretch.

TJ Hurley dropped 18 points, Sean Blake totaled 17 points and six assists, Ben Johnson struck for 14 points with a trio of 3s and Yalden finished with eight points and 11 rebounds to carry the Catamounts, who lost to Maine in last year’s America East semifinals on this court.

Keelan Steele’s 17 points and TJ Biel’s dozen led the way for Maine.

Vermont captured its second straight, hard-fought victory at home. Last week, the Catamounts edged Binghamton 60-59. After Jan. 10, the Catamounts sit alone atop the conference.

“That says a lot about these guys, that over the last two games found a way to win games where we could’ve folded,” UVM coach John Becker said.

Johnson: “It’s better to learn after a win than a loss. Hopefully we can keep it going.”

Vermont basketball rallies from 12-point hole in second half

The Catamounts were slow to rotate on switches to start the second half, and Maine took advantage to string together a 13-0 spurt to build a double-digit lead. Steele’s dunk gave the Black Bears a 49-37 advantage with 13:56 to play.

But Steele’s flush was Maine’s last field goal for 11:01. Becker called on his bench and an uptempo style to generate stops and offense.

Hurley, Johnson and David Simon drained 3-pointers in successive trips as Vermont regained the lead, at 51-50, with 8:49 to go.

“I was really challenging the guys to have some grit, have some fight,” Becker said. “And they responded and the floodgates kind of opened and we went on one of those runs. It was a tidal wave.”

Freshman Momo Nkugwa followed with a nifty cut and finish at the rim, Ben Michaels’ threw down a two-handed dunk on a putback and the veteran Hurley used Yalden as a natural pick for a layup and 57-50 margin with less than 6 minute left to complete a 20-1 run.

“Just keep fighting. It’s a game of runs. We got some stops, made some shots and came back there and made a run,” said Johnson, the Bellarmine transfer who made his first start for Vermont. “When they don’t have a chance to set their defense, it opens up the whole floor.”

Maine ended its field-goal drought on Ryan Mabrey’s 3-point splash with 2:06 on the clock, cutting the Vermont lead to 59-55. That deficit was cut in half on Logan Carey’s foul shots, but Yalden drained a long triple at 1:18 to put the game out of reach.

“Patrick (Gym) was rocking tonight in that second half. It was a great atmosphere,” Becker said.

Vermont basketball plays without 2 starters including TJ Long

Vermont basketball were without two starters vs. Maine: Forward Noah Barnett missed his second straight game and veteran TJ Long was seen in a walking boot during wam-ups. New Hampshire transfer Trey Woodyard was also not dressed due to injury.

Becker said Long suffered a lower-body injury in practice and it’s too early to know the severity of it. Barnett has yet to return to practice, Becker added.

Who’s next for Vermont basketball?

The Catamounts start a three-game America East road trip with a date at Albany on Monday, Jan. 19. They also play at UMass Lowell (Jan. 22) and Bryant (Jan. 24) during the road swing.

Vermont women’s basketball at Maine

Vermont women’s basketball outscored Maine 38-25 in the middle quarters to snare a 64-53 America East Conference victory on the road on Thursday, Jan. 15.

Vermont improves to 14-5 overall and 3-1 in America East.

Keira Hanson sank four 3-pointers and tallied 20 points to lead the Catamounts. Nikola Priede added 16 points and five rebounds and Malia Lenz tossed in 14 points to go with 10 boards, four assists and three assists.

Vermont shot 42.9% on 3s and out-rebounded Maine 36-23. The visitors built a 21-point fourth-quarter lead.

Sarah Talon and Adrianna Smith each had 15 points to pace the Black Bears (8-10, 3-2).

Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.