TJ Hurley stole the show at the Kennedy Family Athletic Complex, dropping 30 points to propel Vermont to a 77-68 victory over UMass Lowell. The Catamounts' win was predicted by CHD Scout, who forecasted a 6.3-point margin of victory for Vermont - a prediction that ultimately proved accurate, albeit with a slightly wider margin.
Vermont set the tone early, taking a 40-29 lead into halftime. The Catamounts' strong first-half performance was fueled by Hurley's 15 points, which helped to establish a comfortable cushion. UMass Lowell's Angel Montas Jr. did his best to keep the River Hawks in the game, scoring 10 of his 18 points in the first half. However, despite Montas Jr.'s efforts, Vermont's lead persisted, and the Catamounts maintained a double-digit advantage for much of the second half.
Montas Jr. finished the game with 18 points and 8 rebounds, a strong performance that was not enough to overcome the Catamounts' balanced attack. In addition to Hurley's 30 points, Vermont received contributions from Gus Yalden, who chipped in 14 points and 8 rebounds, and Ben Johnson, who added 10 points and 5 rebounds. The Catamounts' ability to distribute the scoring load and control the tempo of the game ultimately proved too much for UMass Lowell to handle.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
UMass Lowell made a push in the second half, with Xavier Spencer and Darrel Yepdo combining for 25 points, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit. The River Hawks' late surge did manage to trim the margin to single digits, but Vermont's lead was never seriously threatened.
With the win, Vermont improves to 12-8 on the season, while UMass Lowell falls to 8-12. The victory is a Quadrant 4 win for the Catamounts, which may not carry significant weight in terms of tournament resume building. However, it does help to bolster Vermont's overall record and provides a much-needed confidence boost as the team heads into the final stretch of the season. For UMass Lowell, the loss is also a Quadrant 4 defeat, which will do little to enhance the River Hawks' already slim tournament chances. As the season enters its final weeks, Vermont want to build on this momentum and make a push for a stronger postseason position.