FINAL SCORE: Vermont 79, UAlbany 71
BURLINGTON, Vt. –  The Vermont men's basketball team won at home against UAlbany on Saturday afternoon. TJ Hurley led the Catamounts in scoring with 24 points. Sam Alamutu had his 5^th career double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

RELATED LINKS
Box Score
Sam player of the game interview
Highlights
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Great win and great night celebrating the seniors tonight. Gritty performance without Shamir tonight. I thought Sam Alamutu did a great job tonight with 16 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. I wasn't happy with our defensive rebounding, but credit Albany as they played really hard. We scored 79 points which was really good."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a 5-5 start in the first three minutes, Sam Alamutu would throw down a dunk to give Vermont a 2-point lead.
• At the 11:20 mark, Catamounts had a 13-10 lead at the 12-minute media timeout.
• UAlbany had a 17-15 lead with nine minutes remaining. Nick Fiorillo recorded a chase down block which led to a Vermont basket on the other end.
• At the 7:30 mark, Jace Roquemore would knock down his second three of the game giving UVM a 20-17 lead.
• UAlbany would proceed to go on a 9-2 run until TJ Hurley made a left-corner three. UVM trailed 26-25 with two minutes remaining.
• Nick Fiorillo knocked down a right-wing three to give Vermont a 30-29 lead at the half.
• Catamounts started the second half with back-to-back threes. Ileri Ayo-Faleye recorded a left-wing three to give Vermont a 36-33 lead.
• At the 16-minute media timeout, Vermont led 43-38.
• With 15 minutes remaining, Nick Fiorillo would hit a three from the top of the key as Vermont led 46-41.
• After both teams traded baskets, Sam Alamutu would convert an and-one in the paint off an offensive rebound.
• At the 12-minute media timeout, UVM had a 50-47 lead.
• After another few minutes of both teams trading baskets back and forth, TJ Hurley would knock down a corner three.    
• Two minutes later, TJ Hurley would make a three from the top of the key to give Vermont a 69-61 lead with six minutes remaining.
• After no scoring from both teams for the next three minutes of play, TJ Hurley would knock down his 6^th three of the night which marked a career-high as the Catamounts would take a 72-61 lead.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• TJ Hurley had a team-high 24 points while shooting (9-12) from the field and (6-8) from three. This was Hurley's 11^th game with 20+ points. His six made threes were a career high.
• Five different Catamounts were in double-digit scoring against UAlbany. TJ Hurley (24), Sam Alamutu (16), Jace Roquemore (12), Nick Fiorillo (10), and Ileri Ayo-Faleye (10) contributed for UVM.
• Sam Alamutu had his 5^th career double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. This was Alamutu's 6^th game this season with 10+ rebounds.
• Nick Fiorillo and Sam Alamutu had a team-high three blocks.
• Nick Fiorillo had a team-high five assists.
• Vermont outshot UAlbany (58.3%) to (41%).
• The Catamounts outrebounded the Retrievers 40 to 26.

The Catamounts won tonight which means that Vermont Mutual Insurance will be donating $100 to the Lund Center. A special thank you to Vermont Mutual Insurance for their support. Vermont Mutual Insurance, protecting Vermonters since 1828.
 
UP NEXT
UVM will next play in the America East Quarterfinal. They will host New Hampshire on Saturday, March 8^th. That game will tip off at 3 p.m. ET and it will be on ESPN+. 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