FINAL SCORE: Vermont 81, UAlbany 59
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont (17-5, 7-0 AE) returned home for the first time in two weeks, defeating UAlbany (11-11, 3-4 AE) 81-59 in the Rally Around Mental Health Game on Thursday night at Patrick Gym. The Catamounts stay undefeated in conference play while extending their nation-leading conference win streak to 22 games.
 
RELATED LINKS
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Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Another great team win tonight. I thought our defense was tremendous again," Cioffi Men's Basketball Head Coach John Becker said. "Shamir in his three games back, against really good point guards, has really dominated those matchups from a defensive standpoint. We generated good shots again, still not shooting as well as we know we can, but we just have to stick with it and hopefully it starts to come back, but again another really good defensive performance."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Catamounts pounced first, starting play with a 6-2 scoring run led by Ileri Ayo-Faleye and TJ Hurley. Ayo-Faleye opened the scoring by driving to the basket after capitalizing on an offensive rebound corralled by Shamir Bogues, keeping possession alive for Vermont. Hurley successfully made both his free throws after getting fouled near the baseline. Bogues would find a wide-open Ayo-Faleye on the next possession, allowing for an easy dunk to take the early lead with 16:29 remaining of the first half.
• Following a bucket from UAlbany, UVM orchestrated a 12-2 run where four different players contributed to the attack. The run was highlighted by Ayo-Faleye lobbing it up to Aaron Deloney who delivered a bounce pass while still in the air to Matt Veretto in the corner, where he went on to drain the three-pointer extending the Catamounts' lead to 16-7.
• Coming out of a timeout, TJ Long drilled a three-point shot near from the top of the arc with 8:12 left of the first half. Vermont led 21-9.
• Excellent passing from Vermont's offense allowed for Ayo-Faleye to get open under the basket and ignite the Catamount crowd with an emphatic dunk, making the lead 23-12 in favor of the Catamounts.
• A pair of putback layups from Nick Fiorillo and Long enabled Vermont to maintain a comfortable lead, 29-17, with 4:03 left in the opening half.
• While being off balanced, Deloney executed another elite bounce pass, this time to a slashing Bogues who delivered on the layup attempt bringing the Catamount lead to 31-19.
• Fiorillo cashed in his first three of the game to conclude scoring for Vermont in the first half. UVM entered halftime with a 38-21 lead.
• Bogues scored four straight points for the Catamounts to begin the second half including a smooth jump shot from the top corner of the paint. Vermont led 42-21.
• Long began his second-half scoring when he swished a step-back jump shot near the baseline in front of the Catamounts bench, sustaining Vermont's lead, 44-23.
• The Great Danes made a slight 4-0 run before Deloney and Hurley popped off with a pair of and-one baskets. Deloney was fouled after driving to the basket, while Hurley was fouled while sinking a three-point shot from the far corner. Both players made their free-throws.
• Long cashed his second three of the game with 10:07 remaining, giving Vermont the 61-39 lead.
• Veretto buried a three-pointer with 7:44 remaining of gametime, making UVM's lead 65-47.
• Deloney brought the Catamount lead back to 20 points with a smooth right-handed layup after nearly two minutes of scoreless basketball. Vermont led 67-47.
• A late 6-2 scoring run for Vermont, led by Ayo-Faleye with four points including a forceful two-handed jam, compelled UAlbany to take a short timeout with 2:51 left of gametime. UVM led 75-51.
• A pair of layups from Sam Alamutu concluded the night for Vermont as they finished on top with a controlling 81-59 victory over UAlbany.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Vermont begins America East play 7-0 for the seventh time in program history and fourth time under Becker. The Cats were last started 7-0 in 2021-22.
• Ayo-Faleye earned his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He finished with one assist, one steal, and a block to go along with his double-double performance.
• Fiorillo tied his season-high 15 points, going back-to-back with another 15-point showing against the Great Danes. Fiorillo also captured three rebounds, four assists, one steal, and a block.
• Long registered 14 points while grabbing seven rebounds and two assists for the Catamounts. Long's seven boards tied his career high.
• Deloney led all Catamounts in plus-minus earning a +24 rating while also leading the team in assists (6). Deloney finished the game with 13 total points.
• Bogues played a huge role on the defensive side of the ball, leading Vermont with two blocks and a steal.
• Four Catamounts scored in double-figures for points which is the 11th time this season that has happened. Vermont is 10-1 when four or more players reach double figure scoring.
• UVM shot better in every category, especially from the floor, shooting 29-54 (53.7 percent) compared to UAlbany's 23-65 (35.4 percent) shooting performance.
• With the win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Vermont Children's Trust Foundation as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Since its inauguration in 2017, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has donated over $94,000 to local non-profits through the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative.

UP NEXT
Vermont returns to action on Saturday (Feb. 3) when it hosts Binghamton in the Rally Against Cancer Game presented by Mascoma Bank. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET at Patrick Gym. Tickets are available for purchase at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or by visiting the Patrick Gym Box Office on gameday.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday's conference matchup will broadcast live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan and Bernie Cieplicki on the call. An international stream will also be available on AmericaEast.TV. 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.
 
McGee Automotive Family is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's basketball