FINAL SCORE: NJIT 63, Vermont 61
NEWARK, N.J. – Vermont (18-6, 8-1 AE) saw its nation-best conference winning streak come to an end Thursday night when it suffered a 63-61 loss to NJIT (5-16, 1-8 AE) on the road at the Wellness & Events Center.
 
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Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Obviously a tough loss tonight on the road," Cioffi Men's Basketball Head Coach John Becker said. "You know give NJIT credit. They were super physical, super tough. And Tariq Francis, the freshman point guard, had an incredible night going for 31. So, that's on me I gotta do a better job to game plan and take him out of the game quicker. They made the plays down the stretch and we had some good opportunities, but we just weren't able to capitalize, but again credit NJIT. We'll regroup here and we'll be ready to go down in Baltimore on Saturday."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams were a combined 4-for-14 from the field in the first 6:30 as the Highlanders took a 9-4 lead. Francis led the NJIT attack with five points in the early minutes, while Matt Veretto had UVM's lone field goal, a three pointer on a feed from Shamir Bogues that made the score 4-3.
• Jace Roquemore checked in and instantly provided offense, scoring UVM's next five points, including a trey on his first possession of the game.
• Adam Hess stretched the NJIT lead to four points when his jumper made the score 13-9, but the Catamounts answered with back-to-back three pointers from TJ Hurley and TJ Long to take their first lead of the game, up 15-13 with 7:31 left in the half.
• Minutes later, Nick Fiorillo cashed in a three pointer on a feed from Aaron Deloney that gave the Cats a 19-15 lead, its largest of the half.  
• The Highlanders countered with a 9-4 run over the final 4:14 to take a 24-23 lead into the half.
• Ayo-Faleye opened the frame with a dunk just 0:07 into the half, followed by a three pointer from Long a possession later that forced NJIT to use a timeout. The Catamount duo contributed to the early second half offense as UVM made four of its first five field goal attempts coming out of the break to take a 32-27 lead.
• A 7-1 run fueled by Francis and Elijah Buchanan put the Highlanders back in front, up 34-33 with 15:29 to go.
• Fiorillo's layup with 14:32 remaining put Vermont back in the lead, up 35-34. Long added a layup on the following possession, and a Fiorillo sank a free throw to extend the lead to 38-34 with 13:16 left.
• Francis scored NJIT's next seven points as the Highlanders chipped away at the UVM lead, and Mekhi Gray made a layup with 9:35 left to go up 43-42 with 9:35 left.
• The leaded extended to three points on NJIT's following possession, but Fiorillo answered with a three pointer from the wing to the game at 45-45. Ayo-Faleye made two free throws to lead 47-45 with 7:36 left.
• The Highlanders countered with seven straight points to take a 52-47 lead with 4:46 remaining. Hess knocked down the three pointer that gave NJIT a five-point cushion.
• Hurley made it a one-possession game when he finished a layup a minute later, and Long canned a triple from just in front of the UVM bench to knot the game at 52-52 with 2:43 to go.
• Francis put the Highlanders back in front with his fifth trey of the night with 2:10 remaining. Buchanan converted a three-point play on NJIT's next possession to extend the lead to 58-52 with 1:34 on the clock.
• Four straight free throws from Long and Fiorillo made it a one possession game with 0:52 left. Ayo-Faleye and Hurley forced a turnover on the following inbounds, but the Catamounts were unable to get the equalizer.
• Vermont continued to hang around as the clock winded down. Deloney cashed in a three-pointer with 0:02 left to make the score 62-61. Mekhi Gray made a free throw with 0:01 remaining to ice the game.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The loss is Vermont's first against an America East opponent since Jan. 11, 2023.
• The Cats struggled from the free throw line, making 11 of 20 attempts.
• UVM pulled in all 27 defensive rebounds.
• Long led the offense with 18 points on 4-for-9 shooting from beyond the arc.
• Fiorillo was 4-for-6 from the field and rounded out the Catamounts in double figures with 13 points.

UP NEXT
Vermont's two-game road trip continues on Saturday (Feb. 10) when it visits UMBC in Baltimore, Md. The opening tip is slated for 1 p.m. ET at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday's game will broadcast live on ESPN+ with an international stream available via  AmericaEast.TV. Fans can also 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