FINAL: No. 1 Vermont 84, No. 8 NJIT 57
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Dylan Penn recorded a game-high 23 points to lead top-seeded Vermont (21-10, 14-2 AE) to an 84-57 victory over No. 8 NJIT (7-23, 4-12 AE) in the Jersey Mike's America East Quarterfinals on Saturday night at Patrick Gym.
 
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COACH'S QUOTE
"Great team went tonight," Cioffi Men's Basketball Head Coach John Becker said. "I thought Finn had a little bit of an off night and it was good that other guys kind of picked him up. I thought it was great. Dylan, especially in the second half, did a great job and Robin gave us so many offensive rebounds and extra possessions with his grit and determination. Everything that we've gotten accustomed to seeing over his career, and certainly this year, he was all of that tonight. NJIT started the game making tough shots again, and it kind of felt like the game down there. But Ileri, is becoming a really dependable defender, and I thought his length bothered Osawe a little bit. I always think the hardest one is the first one in some ways, and I thought getting control of that game late in the first half and then into the second half was great. And you know, the crowd was amazing tonight. It's been great all year and hopefully we can continue to get great crowds like that."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Highlanders jumped out to a 5-0 lead with makes on back-to-back possessions to start the game. The Catamounts countered with a 10-2 run over the next 4:21 to take a 10-7 lead with 14:24 left in the first half.
• Raheim Sullivan and Matt Veretto exchanged three-pointers as Vermont remained in front, but Sullivan added a pair of free throws minutes later to help his Highlanders take a 15-13 lead with 12:36 left in the opening frame.
• NJIT was either leading or tied over the next 1:46 until Aaron Deloney drained a three-pointer from the wing for an 18-17 UVM lead with 10:51 remaining in the half. TJ Hurley followed the Deloney triple with a step-back trey to extend the Catamounts' lead. Vermont's lead grew with a 17-6 run over the next 7:01 that put the Cats up 38-23 with 3:17 to go in the frame. Deloney gave UVM its largest lead of the half when he sank a three-pointer with 0:45 left to send the Catamounts into the break with a 45-28 lead.
• UVM made seven of its first 10 attempts from the field coming out of the locker room, and held NJIT to one field goal to take a 63-31 lead with 12:58 left in the game. Penn scored nine points on the 18-3 run for the Catamounts. Veretto gave the Cats their first 20-point lead of the evening with a wide-open trey.
• The Cats and Highlanders exchanged baskets over the next 4:33 as Vermont maintained its healthy lead. Ileri Ayo-Faleye threw down a dunk to hold a 30-point lead for UVM with 7:48 remaining.
• NJIT went on a 12-6 run to cut the Vermont lead to 76-52 with 4:10 left on the clock. Penn and the Catamounts briefly grew the lead back up to 30-points, but Justin Anderson sank a three-pointer with 1:06 left for the final score.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Penn poured in a game-high 23 points on an efficient 10-for-14 shooting night from the floor. The fifth-year senior's 10 field goals are the most he's had at Vermont. Penn also pulled in five rebounds and tallied a team-high three assists.
• Deloney had was 6-for-11 from the floor en route to a 16-point game. The senior knocked down 4-of-6 attempts from beyond the arc and also tallied a team-high three assists.
• Veretto registered double figures for the third-straight game, posting 12 points on 4-for-9 shooting. The UVM forward matched Penn, Deloney, and Finn Sullivan with three assists.
• Robin Duncan led the Catamounts in on the glass, pulling in 10 rebounds, marking the fifth time this season that he has recorded double-digit boards. Duncan registered eight points on 4-for-6 shooting.
• With the win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to King Street Center as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Since its inauguration in 2017, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has donated over $80,000 to local non-profits through the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative.  

 
UP NEXT
Top-seeded Vermont will host No. 5 Binghamton (13-17, 8-8 AE) in the 2023 Jersey Mike's America East Semifinals on Tuesday (Mar. 7) at Patrick Gym. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. ET. The matchup between the Catamounts and Bearcats will broadcast live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan and Bernie Cieplicki on the call. Fans can listen to the game 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.

AMERICA EAST SEMIFINAL TICKET INFO | Release
Season ticket holders can purchase their regular season seats for the semifinal through their online ticket account, by calling the UVM Ticket Office at (802) 656-4410, or in person at the UVM Ticket Office. Season ticket holders can purchase their regular season seats for the semifinal game until Sunday, Mar. 5 at 11:59 p.m. Please contact the UVM Ticket Office at Athletic.Tickets@uvm.edu or 802-656-4410 with any questions regarding your online account or the playoff ticket claim process.
 
Sales to the general public will begin on Monday, Mar. 6 at 1 p.m. in-person at the Patrick Gym ticket office and online at UVMathletics.com/Tickets. Phone orders will not be taken until all in-person customers have been assisted.

SEMIFINAL TICKET PRICES
Courtside: $35
Padded Reserve: $20
Reserved: $18
Reserved Youth (12 and under): $14
UVM Students: Free

Visit UVMathletics.com for news, scores, and updates regarding the America East Men's Basketball Tournament.   
 
McGee Automotive Group is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's basketball