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Men's Basketball Falls to Vermont
Feb. 15, 2006 BURLINGTON, Vt.- The University of Maine men's basketball team fell to Vermont 79-48 on Wednesday night in Burlington, Vt. Maine falls to 9-15 on the season and 4-9 in America East play, while Vermont improves to 11-12 on the season and 7-6 in conference play. The loss snapped Maine's two-game winning streak against the Catamounts. The two teams began the game on a rapid scoring pace and were tied 8-8 with 15:49 remaining in the first half. Olli Ahvenniemi (Vaasa, Finland) and Philippe Tchekane Bofia (Yaounde, Cameroon) combined to score Maine's first eight points. Rashard Turner (Peekskill, N.Y.) then drained a three-point field goal to give Maine an 11-9 lead. The two teams continued to trade hoops and were again knotted at 16-16. Vermont used a 13-0 run to take a 27-16 lead. Chris Bruff (Bloomfield, Conn.) snapped the Vermont run with a hoop in the paint with 5:43 left in the first half. Bruff scored the next basket and the Black Bears cut the Vermont lead to 27-20. Vermont's Trimboli answered with a three-point field goal and the Catamounts regained a 10-point lead. Vermont ended the half on a 10-2 run to take a 40-24 lead into intermission. Maine was led by Ahvenniemi who had six points in the first half. Six different players scored at least three points for Maine in the first half. Five different Catamounts scored six points in the first half. Vermont opened the second half on an 11-6 run to extend its lead to 51-30 with 15:50 remaining in the game. The Catamounts continued to add to their lead throughout the second half. Vermont led 64-37 with 7:01 remaining in the game. Vermont ended the game on a 5-0 run to earn the 79-48 win. Maine was led by Chris Bruff who finished with 11 points and six rebounds in the game. Philippe Tchekane Bofia added 10 points and four rebounds for the Black Bears. Jon Sheets (Grass Valley, Calif.) had eight points and a team-high three steals, while Ahvenniemi also chipped in with eight points.
Mike Trimboli led Vermont with 15 points, while Chris Holm chipped in with 13. Maine shot 32.8 percent in the game, while Vermont connected 53.3 percent of the time. The Black Bears return to action on Sunday, February 19 when they host New Hampshire at 1:00 at Alfond Arena in Orono, Maine. -U-M- |
