WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Hoopcats Crush Concordia

Hoopcats Crush Concordia

11/1/09

BURLINGTON, VT - Senior Maurice Joseph (Montreal, Quebec) led three Catamounts in double-figures with a game-high 15 points as the University of Vermont men's basketball team rolled to a 92-46 victory over Concordia in a preseason contest on Sunday afternoon.

The Catamounts went up 8-0 to start the game behind six points from junior Evan Fjeld (Durham, N.C.). The Stingers climbed back within two, but another 6-0 spurt ignited a 28-9 run to close the first half and give UVM a 49-24 lead at the break.

All 12 players scored in the half, led by nine points from Joseph. UVM shot 54.5 percent from the field and held Concordia to 27.6 percent shooting from the floor. The Catamounts also dominated the boards, out rebounding the Stingers 26-13 and registered four blocks in the first 20 minutes of action.

Vermont started the second half with 7-1 run and pushed out to a 37-point lead, 67-30, with just over 12 minutes remaining in the game. The Catamounts biggest lead of the game, 48 points, came after a bucket by freshman Simeon Marsalis (New Rochelle, N.Y.) at the 1:15 mark to make the score 91-43.

"I thought we got a lot accomplished today and it was good for our new guys to get used to playing in a game. We tried to play everyone a lot of minutes and I thought the freshmen did a nice job," said Vermont head coach Mike Lonergan.

Fjeld finished the game with 12 points and six boards, while Joey Accaoui (Lincoln, R.I.) added 13 points and Marqus Blakely (Metuchen, N.J.) chipped in seven points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds for UVM.

Evens Laroche led the Stingers with 13 points and 11 rebounds and teammate James Clark added 10 points.

Vermont will play its final exhibition game on Saturday (Nov. 7) when it hosts neighboring Saint Michael's College at 1 p.m. at Patrick Gym. The game is part of a basketball doubleheader as the UVM women's team takes on Franklin Pierce at 4:30pm.

---Courtesy Vermont Athletics