BURLINGTON, Vt. (Interstat) — The Vermont Catamounts defeated the Maine Black Bears 67-62 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at Roy L. Patrick Gymnasium. Vermont improved to 11-7 overall, while Maine fell to 3-15. The Catamounts led 32-30 at halftime and maintained a narrow advantage throughout the second half before securing the five-point conference victory. A crowd of 2,202 attended the America East matchup. Vermont had been a heavy pregame favorite.

BURLINGTON, Vt. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grit over grace, the Vermont Catamounts held off a persistent and pesky Maine Black Bears squad for a 67-62 victory in America East Conference men’s basketball action Thursday night at a packed Roy L. Patrick Gymnasium. The contest was a stark contrast in styles and execution. Vermont, improving to 11-7 overall, leveraged superior size and shot-making, while Maine, now 3-15, relied on near-flawless ball security and relentless defense to stay within striking distance until the final seconds. The Catamounts shot 49% from the floor and used a 9-2 advantage in blocked shots to protect their home court, but were forced to sweat out the final minutes against a Black Bears team that committed only two turnovers the entire game. The most critical phase of the contest unfolded in the final 90 seconds. With Vermont clinging to a 62-59 lead after a Logan Carey-assisted three-pointer from Maine’s Ryan Mabrey, the Catamounts’ Sean Blake was fouled and sent to the line. The sophomore guard from Mississauga, Canada, who orchestrated much of Vermont’s offense, calmly sank both free throws with 2:18 remaining to push the lead back to five. After a defensive stop, Blake was fouled again, this time converting a one-and-one opportunity to extend the Vermont advantage to 64-59 with just 31 seconds left. Maine’s Keelan Steele was fouled on the ensuing possession and made the first of two free throws. His miss on the second was tracked down by Ben Johnson, whose defensive rebound proved pivotal. Johnson, a key contributor from Lexington, Kentucky, was then fouled and made the first of his two free throws, making it a two-possession game at 65-60 with 22 seconds on the clock. Maine’ Caleb Crawford drew a foul on a three-point attempt and made two of his three free throws to cut the deficit to 65-62 with 16 seconds left, but Blake iced the game with two more clutch free throws, providing the final margin. The game’s decisive stretch underscored Vermont’s ability to execute under pressure at the foul line, where they went 10 for 14, and to get critical stops when needed. Maine, which shot 18 for 25 from the stripe, simply ran out of time and possessions in its comeback bid. Vermont established control early, taking a 32-30 lead into halftime behind balanced scoring. The second half saw the Catamounts gradually build their largest lead at 51-42 following a David Simon three-pointer with 8:49 to play. Each time Vermont threatened to pull away, however, Maine answered, often through the interior work of Steele or the playmaking of Carey. Steele, a 6-foot-10 forward from Alton, Canada, led Maine with 17 points, showcasing a soft touch around the rim. Carey, the guard from Shelton, Connecticut, facilitated the offense with seven assists to go with eight points. TJ Biel added 12 points for the Black Bears. Vermont was led by a dynamic scoring duo. TJ Hurley, a 6-foot-5 wing from Pelham, Canada, poured in 18 points, while Blake filled the stat sheet with 17 points and six assists, directing the offense for 35 minutes. Johnson provided a crucial 14-point boost, including three three-pointers. The Catamounts’ defense, anchored by Simon’s three blocks and Ben Michaels’ two, altered numerous Maine attempts in the paint. The statistical story highlighted the clash. Vermont’s offensive rating of 105.3 on 64 possessions outpaced Maine’s 98.6 on 63 possessions, reflecting the efficiency gap. Yet, Maine’s astonishing care with the ball—only two turnovers against eight for Vermont—and their six steals kept them in a game where they were outshot 49% to 36% from the field. A crowd of 2,202 watched the conference clash. Vermont now looks ahead to a road game at Albany on Monday. Maine returns home to host New Hampshire that same night, seeking to build on a performance that, while a loss, demonstrated a level of competitiveness that has been elusive for much of their season.

Preview: Maine Black Bears at Vermont Catamounts BURLINGTON, Vt. (Interstat) — The Vermont Catamounts look to continue their climb in the America East standings when they host the struggling Maine Black Bears on Thursday night at Roy L. Patrick Gymnasium. Vermont (10-7, 2-0 America East) has won three of its last four, including a narrow 60-59 conference win over Binghamton last Thursday. The Catamounts are led by forward Gus Yalden, who is averaging 20 points over his last three games. Yalden scored 15 points in 19 minutes off the bench against Binghamton and had a season-high 29 points in a win over Siena last month. Maine (3-14, 1-1) enters after snapping a three-game skid with a 74-70 road win at NJIT on Jan. 10. The Black Bears lean heavily on guard TJ Biel, who has been a bright spot during a difficult season. Biel is coming off a 21-point performance at NJIT and scored 27 points in a loss to Maryland-Baltimore County on Jan. 8. Despite their recent win, the Black Bears face a steep challenge. Vermont has traditionally dominated the series and holds a significant home-court advantage at Patrick Gymnasium. The Catamounts’ defense, which held Binghamton to 59 points, will aim to contain Biel and force other Maine players to contribute. For Vermont, maintaining momentum is key as it navigates the early conference schedule. Beyond Yalden, balance has been a strength; in the win over New Hampshire on Jan. 3, five Catamounts scored in double figures. Maine will need to replicate its NJIT effort, where it got double-figure scoring from Logan Carey (11 points) and Ace Flagg (10 points) alongside Biel, to have a chance on the road. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The game will be the only regular-season meeting between the rivals until a rematch in Orono, Maine, on Feb. 5.