Box Score

The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team was defeated in its return to Stratis Arena by Vermont, 71-53, Wednesday evening in Hackensack, NJ.  With the victory, the Catamounts improve to 5-7 on the season, while the Knights fall to 1-9 overall.

Junior Kinu Rochford (Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison) led four Knights in double-figures with 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the floor and grabbed six rebounds.  Fellow classmate Melquan Bolding (Mt. Vernon, N.Y./Bishop Stepinac) added 12 points, while graduate students George Goode (Raytown, MO/Raytown South) and Mouhamed Lo (Port Chester, NY/Port Chester ) chipped in 11 each.  Lo also added six rebounds.

Vermont led wire-to-wire from the opening tip thanks to 48.3 percent shooting in the first half.  Leading 5-4 early, the Catamounts went on a 14-5 run to take a 20-8 lead with 9:49 left before halftime.

The lead eventually increased to 16 on three different occasions as Vermont led 32-16 with 3:21 left in the half.

Rochford's tip-in at the end of the half cut the deficit to 35-23 at the break.

FDU turned the ball over 13 times in the first half which led to 18 points for the Catamounts.  The Knights also shot 38.5 percent over the first 20 minutes.  Vermont made five three-pointers to the Knights' one from long range.

The Catamounts were able to extend the lead back to 16 at 43-27 before the Knights were able to cut the lead back to 12 (43-31) with 16:07 remaining in the game, but that was as close as the Knights would come as Vermont took the victory, 71-53.

Despite outshooting Vermont in the second half, turnovers still hampered the Knights (10 in the second half) as they turned it over 23 times for the game which led to 26 points for the Catamounts.  Vermont also went 7-of-22 from three-point range, while the Knights only went 2-of-11 from downtown.

FDU finished the contest shooting 40.4 percent (19-of-47) with Vermont shooting 44.6 percent (25-of 56).  The Catamounts also won the rebounding battle, 34-29.

“I am disappointed in the loss,” Head Coach Greg Vetrone said.  “We now have to turn our attention to NJIT as we have a week to prepare for them.”

Luke Apfeld led Vermont with 14 points.  Brendan Bald and Four McGlynn added 13 points, while Matt Glass chipped in with 11.

The Knights will have a week off before returning to action on Wednesday, Dec. 28 as they take the short trip to Newark to take on NJIT.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.