Catamounts Travel to Unbeaten Iona on Sunday

By Bruce Bosley, UVM Athletic Communications Office

Saturday, December 03, 2005

After two straight home wins, the three-time defending America East Champion University of Vermont Catamounts (2-3) head south to take on the red-hot Iona College Gaels (4-0) Sunday at 2:00pm at the Mulcahy Center in New Rochelle, N.Y. (Radio: WXZO 96.7 FM; WEAV 960 AM; WCVR 102.1 FM; Internet: www.sportsjuice.com) The Catamounts topped Wagner last Saturday and Holy Cross on Monday at Patrick Gym and head to Iona looking for their first road win of the season.

Iona, picked to finish first in the MAAC preseason poll, is off to its best start since 1984-85 and has posted impressive wins at Iowa State and Fordham. This is the Gaels’ home opener. Iona leads the all-time series, 3-1, with UVM's victory coming last November in Burlington.

Vermont's win over Holy Cross on Monday ended a ‘NBA-like’ stretch of five games in 10 days and it now moves into a ‘NFL-like’ schedule playing on either Saturday or Sunday over three straight weekends. The Catamounts early season schedule also has been challenging playing a Big East school (Providence), a ranked opponent (No. 22 Nevada) and four schools picked to finish first or second in their conference (Harvard, Wagner, Holy Cross and Iona).

TRIO OF 22s ... One of the most improved players in the America East, 6-foot-8 junior Martin Klimes has scored 22 or more points in three straight games. He had a career-high 24 against 22nd ranked Nevada and 22 vs. Wagner and Holy Cross. After a 1-for-10 outing in the opener at Harvard, he has shot 29-for-46 (63%) from the field in the last four games. He is averaging 17.4 points per game, third in America East, and is shooting 54% from the floor.

POINT TAKEN ... Vermont’s top scorer through five games has been freshman point guard Mike Trimboli, who is averaging 18.0 points, second in America East, and a conference-leading 6.4 assists per game. In Monday’s win over Holy Cross he had a season-high 21 points while going 12-for-13 from the line. On November 28, Trimboli was named America East Rookie of the Week for the second straight week.

COMIN' HOME ... Sophomore forward Ryan Schneider, a native of nearby Yorktown Heights, N.Y., has improved numbers through five games averaging 12.0 points and a team-best 6.4 rebounds per game. Third on the Cats in three-pointers last year, he is 15-for-32 (47%) from beyond the arc this season.

MORE ‘HOLM’-COOKIN’ ... Junior Chris Holm, a 6-foot-11 transfer from Rhode Island, recorded his first career double-double Monday with 11 points and 11 boards, establishing new career-highs in points and rebounds. He is second on the Cats in rebounds at 6.2 per game, and leads the team in field goal shooting at 58% and blocked shots with six.

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND ... Vermont puts its 20-game winning streak against schools from New York State on the line against Iona. Last season the Catamounts went 11-0 versus Empire State rivals capped by a win over Big East Champion Syracuse in the NCAAs. UVM’s last loss to a N.Y. team was to Iona at the Westchester County Center on Nov. 24, 2003.

CAT-NIPS ... A key to the Catamounts win over Holy Cross was an impressive 40-22 advantage on the boards. UVM also made a season-high 29 free throws ... Sophomore guard Chad Powlovich made a big contribution in the Holy Cross win with two late free throws ... Vermont next plays on Saturday, December 10 hosting New Hampshire in its America East opener at 1:00pm (Radio: WXZO 96.7 FM; WEAV 960 AM; WCVR 102.1 FM; Internet: www.sportsjuice.com). Tickets are available for the UNH game and all Vermont men’s basketball games at the UVM Athletic Ticket Office at 1-866-4-CAT-TIX and 802-656-4410. They also can be purchased on line at www.uvmathletics.com.After two straight home wins, the three-time defending America East Champion University of Vermont Catamounts (2-3) head south to take on the red-hot Iona College Gaels (4-0) Sunday at 2:00pm at the Mulcahy Center in New Rochelle, N.Y. (Radio: WXZO 96.7 FM; WEAV 960 AM; WCVR 102.1 FM; Internet: www.sportsjuice.com) The Catamounts topped Wagner last Saturday and Holy Cross on Monday at Patrick Gym and head to Iona looking for their first road win of the season.