BURLINGTON, Vt. (Interstat) — The Vermont Catamounts defeated the Merrimack Warriors 66-59 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Sunday at Roy L. Patrick Gymnasium. Vermont built a 30-21 halftime lead and maintained control despite a stronger second-half push from Merrimack. Kevair Kennedy led all scorers with 20 points and added seven assists for the Warriors. Noah Barnett paced the Catamounts with 16 points. Merrimack’s record falls to 6-7. Vermont improves to 7-5. Attendance was 2,013.

Vermont, Merrimack Meet in Non-Conference Tune-Up BURLINGTON, Vt. (Interstat) — Two teams riding winning streaks will meet Sunday when the Vermont Catamounts host the Merrimack Warriors in a non-conference men’s basketball game at Roy L. Patrick Gymnasium. Vermont (6-5) has won two straight, including a 65-56 road victory at Pepperdine on Dec. 6. Merrimack (6-6) enters on a four-game winning streak, capped by a 59-56 win at Princeton on Wednesday. The matchup features a contrast in momentum. The Warriors, after a 1-5 start, have found their footing behind guard Kevair Kennedy. The senior is averaging 17.0 points and 4.6 assists per game and is coming off a stretch of four consecutive victories where he scored 16, 19, 20 and 14 points, respectively. His all-around play has keyed Merrimack’s resurgence. Vermont counters with guard TJ Hurley, who leads the team in scoring. Hurley poured in 18 points in the win at Pepperdine but has been inconsistent, scoring four points or fewer in two of his last five outings. The Catamounts will need a steady performance from him against Merrimack’s active defense. Both teams have faced similar opponents this season. Vermont defeated Princeton 79-74 on Nov. 26, while Merrimack edged the Tigers just days ago. Each squad also owns a win over Fairfield. For Vermont, this game begins a three-game homestand before America East Conference play begins next month. Merrimack, an independent, continues a challenging road stretch before its schedule lightens in January. Sunday’s contest tips off at 2 p.m. EST. Vermont holds a 4-1 all-time series advantage, though the programs have not met since 2022.