Hot-Shooting Catamounts Drop American, 72-62

By Bruce Bosley, UVM Athletic Communications Office

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Kyle Cieplicki (Shelburne, Vt.) scored a career-high 16 points and Josh Duell (Scotia, N.Y.) came off the bench to add 11 as Vermont held off American, 72-62, in men’s college basketball Thursday night at Patrick Gym.

The win was Vermont’s second straight and its fifth in seven games as it evened its record at 5-5. The Catamounts, who shot a season-best 64 percent from the floor in their last game at Dartmouth including 75 percent in the second half, opened tonight’s contest with another blistering effort going 77 percent from the field in the first half.

“We had a great first half shooting the ball but let them get back in the game in the second half with some poor free throw shooting and some bad late turnovers,” said Vermont coach Mike Lonergan. “Kyle Cieplicki played great at both ends and Josh Duell gave us a big boost off the bench. I am ecstatic to be 5-5 at this stage of the season considering our schedule with teams like Nevada, Providence and Pitt.”

Vermont used solid defense and hot shooting in a 20-0 run midway through the first half. UVM held American (3-8) without a field goal for nearly 10 minutes and also hit seven straight from the floor in this stretch to take command. Duell and Colin McIntosh (Milton, Mass.) each had nine points as the Catamounts raced out to a 38-16 lead at the break.

The Eagles, behind Andre Ingram and Arvidas Eitutavicius, mounted a late second-half charge and cut the deficit to 68-59 with 1:37 to play. A layup by Rob Sisca (Weston, Conn.), along with free throws by Chad Powlovich (Jericho, Vt.) and Ryan Schneider (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) closed out the game for Vermont.

Cieplicki, who had 14 points in the Dartmouth win, went 4 for 8 from the floor and a perfect 6 for 6 from the line to go with five assists. Duell, who also had a team-high five rebounds, led a solid effort off the bench as fellow reserves McIntosh and Timothy McCrory (Pascagoula, Miss.) each had season-highs with nine points apiece. Vermont’s reserves outscored AU’s by a 32-10 margin. Cats’ starting point guard Mike Trimboli (Norwalk, Conn.) chipped in with eight points and a game-high six assists.

UVM finished the contest shooting 55 percent from the field and outrebounded American, 34-29. The Eagles shot only 23 percent in the first half and 38% for the game,

American was led by Eitutavicius with 20 points while Ingram, who made just five of his 17 field goal attempts, tallied 16 including 14 in the second half. Point guard Derrick Mercer added 10 points and three assists.

Vermont next plays on Monday, Jan. 2, hosting Siena at Patrick Gym at 7 p.m. (Radio: WXZO 96.7 FM, WEAV 960 AM and WCVR 102.1 FM; Internet: www.sportsjuice.com). General admission tickets are available for all Vermont regular season home games at the UVM Athletic Ticket Office by calling 1-866-4-CAT-TIX. Tickets are also available on line at www.uvmathletics.com. Vermont will celebrate the NCAA Centennial Year (1906-2006) at the Siena game with special NCAA trivia and giveaways.