Vermont Rolls Over Toledo in Men's Basketball, 82-49

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Three Catamounts reached double figures, led by 21 from senior Maurice Joseph (Montreal, Quebec) as the Vermont men’s basketball team cruised to an 82-49 victory over Toledo in the final day of the Legends Classic at the Daskalakis Athletic Center on Sunday. The Cats snapped a three-game slide with the win as they shot 50.8 percent from the floor to improve to 3-4 on the season.

Joseph hit a team season-high five three-pointers coming off his first game of the year being held under double figures against Cornell on Saturday, while classmate Marqus Blakely (Metuchen, N.J.) added 15 points, a season-high seven assists and five rebounds. The Catamounts took an 18-point lead into the locker room after shooting 56.7 percent from the floor in the first half.

“I think we really needed a win today,” said Vermont head coach Mike Lonergan. “I think today we played defense from start to finish and that was the key. We didn’t let up, because they are a team that comes back no matter if they are playing Drexel or Michigan State, but we kept the intensity and put them away. I am happy with the win and I thought it was a good trip because we got some of the younger guys experience.”

The Cats came out of the gates hot from the floor, making seven of their first 11 attempts as UVM jumped out to a 19-6 lead 8:37 into the contest. Vermont would push its lead to as many as 20 in the half at 37-17. Leading by 10, the Catamounts used a 10-0 run to take a commanding advantage. Seniors Nick Vier (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) and Blakely each converted three-point plays in the run, while Joseph also hit one of his three first half three-pointers.

Earning his first career start, freshman Ben Crenca (Exeter, R.I.) looked sharp in the early going by making his first four attempts and finishing the half with eight points and three rebounds.

Freshman Simeon Marsalis (New Rochelle, N.Y.) hit a buzzer-beating lay-up to give Vermont a 41-23 advantage going into the half, even though the Cats committed seven turnovers and missed five free throws in the opening 20 minutes of play.

The Catamounts led by as many as 35 in the second half. Leading 47-30 after a lay-up by Toledo’s Ian Salter, Vermont went on an 11-0 run over the next 2:50 to put the game away. Joseph had five in the run, while Blakely added four.

Junior Joey Accaoui (Lincoln, R.I.) recorded his second straight game with 10 points off the bench, while classmate Garrett Kissel (Springfield, Mass.) pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds and just missed a double-double as he added eight points.

Jordan Dressler led Toledo (0-6) with 11 points, while Stephen Albrecht added 10 as the only other Rocket in double figures.

Vermont returns north to face Dartmouth on the road on Tuesday starting at 7 p.m. in its next time out. The game can be heard live on 96.7 DOT-FM, The Zone 960 AM and WSTJ-1320 AM (Randolph), and on the internet at www.UVMathletics.com with the audio stream provided by SportsJuice.com.

NOTES: Sunday wrapped up three games in three days for the Cats and also a span where they played five games in eight days, all on the road … The eight points were a career-high for Crenca … All 10 Catamounts that were dressed, played in the game … Blakely was named the all-tournament team … Joseph made 10 three-pointers in the three games at Drexel … The Rockets are one of the youngest teams in the nation, with 13 of their 15 players being underclassmen … Sunday was only the second meeting between the two schools in men’s basketball, as the Rockets won the first match up during the 1983-84 season … The last time the Cats won by more than 30 points came on January 31 of last season when they defeated New Hampshire on the road, 83-39 … Vermont was 25-for-41 (60.9%) from inside three for the game.