FINAL SCORE: Fairfield 67, Vermont 66
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Four players scored in double figures for Fairfield (3-4) as they rode a hot-shooting first half to a 67-66 win over an injury depleted Vermont (3-4) lineup Sunday afternoon in non-conference action from the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off at Mohegan Sun Arena.

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Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Tough loss today versus a hungry Fairfield team," said Cioffi Men's Basketball Coach John Becker. "We obviously missed Shamir today, but we should have had enough to play better today. I thought Jace played great starting for Shamir, but we struggled to get much from our bench again. Another great opportunity for us to learn and grow from a tough, hard-fought game."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Fairfield Makuei Riek scored the first seven points for Fairfield as the teams played to an early 7-7 tie 3:03 into the contest.
• A 6-0 Stags run gave Fairfield a 18-14 edge with 10:37 to play in the opening half.
• The Catamounts would spend the rest of the half chipping away at the lead but Fairfield's hot-shooting (14-25, 56%) kept Vermont at an arm's length.
• Nick Fiorillo converted a layup with seven seconds to go in the half to make it 37-35 Fairfield at the break.
• TJ Hurley was the Catamounts leading scorer in the first half contributing 15 points.
• In the second half Jace Roquemore led a UVM charge to take the lead. He had five points during a 9-2 UVM run that gave the Catamounts a 52-48 edge with 11:57 to play.
• With 7:35 to go Fairfield's Prophet Johnson tied the game at 56 for the ninth and final time of the afternoon. The Stags used an 11-2 run to push their advantage to seven with 2:48 to play.
• There was no quit from the Catamounts Nick Fiorillo converted an and-one opportunity with a dunk, and Roquemore hit the free throw after Fiorillo exited injured on the play. Then Hurley hit a pull-up jumper 28 seconds later after an Ileri Ayo-Faleye steal to make it a two-point game with 80 seconds to play.
• The teams each had an empty possession before Peyton Smith hit two free throws to stretch the lead to four with 10 seconds to play.
• TJ Long hit a three-pointer with four seconds left, reaching a team-high 18 points, and cutting it back to a one-point advantage.
• Fairfield missed the front-end of a one-and-one but without a timeout the Catamounts weren't able to setup a play and Sam Alamutu's desperation heave from beyond halfcourt missed to seal Fairfield's third win of the season.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Stags scored 19 points off the Catamounts 14 turnovers.
• Fairfield led for 25:55 of the contest Sunday afternoon, although their largest lead was only seven, with 2:48 to play in the second half.
• Shamir Bogues and Seth Joba were unavailable for Vermont Sunday after playing Saturday against Delaware.
• Vermont is now 0-3 against MAAC opponents this season. They fell by a single point to Fairfield and three points on Nov. 15 at Iona.

UP NEXT
The Catamounts will return home to Patrick Gym to host Plattsburgh State on Wednesday, November 27 at 7 p.m. The action will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan and Bernie Cieplicki on the call. The radio broadcast is also available via the Varsity Network App with Brian McLaughlin on the call. Tickets are available at UVMAthletics.com.
 
McGee Automotive Family is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's basketball