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PORTLAND, Maine – Ethan O'Day and Dre Wills combined for 29 points as the Vermont Catamounts used a strong second half effort to pull away from Maine and post a 68-54 win over the Black Bears in America East men's basketball action at the Portland Expo.
 
Vermont snaps a four-game losing streak and improves to 2-0 in America East with the win, 6-8 overall. Maine falls to 1-13 on the year and 0-2 in league play.
 
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O'Day was 7-for-10 from the floor for a game-high 15 points and added three blocks. Wills netted 14 points and added six rebounds, five assists and three steals in a solid outing. Freshman Cam Ward came off the bench to chip in 12 points for the Catamounts.
 
Till Gloger and Shaun Lawton scored 12 points each to pace Maine. Lawton added five rebounds for the Black Bears.
 
Maine jumped out to an 11-0 lead to start the game. Vermont answered with a 13-2 run to tie the game up at 13 following a layup by Wills at the 8:53 mark of the first half.
 
A 3-pointer by Brandon Hatton with 3:37 remaining in the half gave Vermont a 23-20 lead, one the Catamounts would not relinquish the rest of the way.
 
UVM shot 52.6 percent in the first 20 minutes and held a 28-26 lead at the break.
 
The Catamounts put together a 16-2 run to start the second half and pulled away from the Black Bears to post their 12th straight America East regular season victory.
 
Vermont continues America East action on Saturday (Jan. 10) when the Catamounts host Stony Brook at Patrick Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.
 
Tickets can be purchased online at UVMathletics.com, in person at the UVM Athletic Ticket Office (M-F: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) located on the balcony in Patrick Gymnasium, via the phone at 802-656-4410, or in person one hour before tipoff in the Patrick Gymnasium Lobby.
 
The game can be heard on ESPN 101.3 FM (online: 1013ESPN.com) with A.J. Kanell on the call. The game will also be broadcast online via ESPN3.com.
 
NOTES: Cam Ward is averaging 15.5 points per game in league play … Dre Wills is averaging 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 3.0 steals in America East action.