Feb. 14, 2008

Box Score

BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Boston University men's basketball team withstood a late charge from Vermont as the Terriers (10-14, 7-5 America East) held on for a thrilling 59-58 win over the Catamounts (12-12, 7-5) Thursday evening in Patrick Gym.

BU held Vermont scoreless for nearly six minutes at the start of the second half and limited the Catamounts to 2-for-11 shooting during that span to build as many as a 14-point lead midway through the final period. But UVM scrapped and nearly came all the way back as the Catamounts watched their final shot bounce off the rim as time expired.

"I'm really proud of our guys," said head coach Dennis Wolff. "This is a very important road win for them. I thought we made great plays - Matt, MJ and Max all finished for us."

Sophomore Scott Brittain (Oakville, Ont.) led the charge for BU with 16 points and five rebounds. Sophomore Corey Lowe (Newton, Mass.) was named America East Player of the Game for the Terriers with 13 points and five boards, and freshman John Holland (Bronx, N.Y.) added 12 points and a team-best six rebounds.

Marqus Blakely was Vermont's America East Player of the Game, scoring 21 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Kyle Cieplicki was the other Catamount in double figures with 10 points.

Coming out of the half up by four points, the Terriers kept using UVM off the board from 18:16 until 12:51. Junior Matt Wolff hit his only 3-pointer of the game to put BU up by 11, 42-31. The Terriers continued on a 14-4 run to go up 47-33 at 10:42 after Holland knocked down a triple.

However, Vermont answered with a 12-2 run of its own, helped along by several BU miscues. The Catamounts inched closer and closer, trimming the Terriers lead to 53-50 on three straight free throws. The Terriers stayed out in front when Lowe made a layup and sunk free throws after being intentionally fouled.

UVM hit two key threes to keep itself in the game in the final two minutes, and Blakely made two foul shots with 45 seconds to go, but a long jumper by Mike Trimboli clanked off the rim as the buzzer sounded.

The Terriers held Vermont to 33.9 percent from the floor and swatted six shots. BU shot 42.6 percent and had 10 steals. The Terriers won the battle in the paint as well, 30-20.

The first half featured six ties and five lead changes but was a low-scoring affair to start. Vermont had an over three-minute scoring drought, but BU could not capitalize. The Terriers took a 12-8 lead at 12:08 after Holland sunk the game's first 3-pointer. Vermont briefly took the lead but a pair of Brittain's 12 made free throws tied the game at 24 with 4:08 to go before the half, and a Holland dunk at 3:34 on a fast break put BU up for good. Lowe banked in a 28-foot trey and sent BU into the half up 33-29.

BU returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 17 when the Terriers face UMBC at 4:00 p.m. in Baltimore, Md.