FINAL SCORE: USC 59, Vermont 57
LOS ANGELES – Vermont (1-3) fought hard, and even grabbed a halftime lead, but ultimately fell to USC (2-1) 59-57 in a defensive battle Tuesday night at the Galen Center.
 
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COACH'S QUOTE
"It was a hard-fought game," Cioffi Men's Basketball Head Coach John Becker said. "I thought it was much better effort by us defensively, rebounding, toughness wise. I thought it was much more at the level we need to be. Unfortunately, you know, we just didn't make a lot of shots and you know, playing on the road, they just got to line quite a bit down the stretch. But, I'm really proud of how the guys competed tonight and we could definitely build off this effort."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Catamounts and Trojans battled in a back-and-forth opening half. Nick Fiorillo gave Vermont the first lead of the night with an early four points from the paint. USC answered with a 12-5 run to take a three-point lead with 11:43 left in the half. The Catamounts countered with five straight points to pull back in front.
• The lead changed several times as the half continued, until Ileri Ayo-Faleye split a double team and found a cutting Dylan Penn who finished a layup for a 21-20 lead with 2:36 remaining. Finn Sullivan and Penn followed up with made jumpers on the next two trips to extend the lead to 25-20. Ayo-Faleye would drill two free throws with 22 seconds left to take a 27-22 lead into the locker room.
• Matt Veretto opened the second half with a three-pointer to grow the UVM lead to 30-22, its largest of the night. The Trojans responded with an 8-0 run over a span of 4:35 to knot the game at 30-30 with 13:44 remaining. TJ Hurley drilled a corner three on the following possession to put Vermont back in front, but the lead would change seven times over the next 7:20. Finn Sullivan converted on a driving layup, drew a foul, and sank the free throw to put the Cats up 44-42 with 6:23 left on the clock.
• USC would make four free straight free throws over the next few minutes to pull in front 46-44, until a Penn basket that tied the game at 46 apiece with 3:44 to play. Fiorillo would sink a trey one possession later to counter a three-point trip for the Trojans. Drew Peterson added five straight points to put USC up 54-49 with 1:57 remaining. The Catamounts would cut the score down to one possession, but couldn't get the equalizer before time expired.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Sullivan led the UVM attack with 17 points on a 6-for-13 shooting night. The UVM guard tallied 11 of his points in the second half. Sullivan sank a pair of three-pointers in the second half. He pulled in six rebounds and added three assists on the night.
• Penn was also in double figures with an 11-point outing. Penn was 5-for-12 from the field and drilled his lone three-point attempt of the night.
• Fiorillo finished the night with nine points, and picked up a pair of rebounds. Robin Duncan led the team on the glass with seven rebounds.
• Vermont's defense held USC to a 35.8% shooting percentage from the field, and an 18.8% clip from beyond the arc.

UP NEXT
The Catamounts return to action on Friday (Nov. 18) when they face Iona in the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET and will broadcast live on ESPN+. Tickets are available for purchase at Hoophall.com. Fans can listen to the action for free on the Vermont Sports Network, from Learfield on The Game, which will air on 97.1 FM in Burlington, 105.9 FM in Plattsburgh, and 960 AM around the rest of the region. The radio broadcast is also available via the Varsity Network App with Brian McLaughlin on the call.
 
McGee Automotive Group is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's basketball