Vermont Hangs On For Hard-Fought 80-73 Win Over QU Men's Basketball

Thursday, December 21

Burlington, VT

7:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

3-9

University of Vermont

8-5

Quinnipiac

Vermont

Vermont Hangs On For Hard-Fought 80-73 Win Over QU Men's Basketball

12/21/2017 9:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: QU Athletic Communications

Burlington, Vt. – The Quinnipiac men's basketball team whittled a 17-point Vermont lead down to four in the final minute but the Catamounts held on to take an 80-73 win on Thursday evening at Patrick Gymnasium in the final non-conference game of the year for the Bobcats. Vermont improves to 19-1 at home in the last two years. Quinnipiac was led by 18 from senior guard Cameron Young (Los Angeles, Calif.) and 17 off the bench from freshman forward Jacob Rigoni (Adelaide, Australia).

SCORE
Vermont 80, Quinnipiac 73

LOCATION
Patrick Gymnasium / Burlington, Vt.

RECORDS
Quinnipiac 3-9 // Vermont 8-5

GAME NOTES

Quinnipiac played its last of five straight road games to close out its non-conference schedule. The Bobcats haven't been at home since defeating UMass 68-66 on Nov. 29.
Vermont led by as many as 17 (39-22) late in the first half. The Bobcats were able to get the lead down to four at 76-72 on a three-pointer from freshman guard Rich Kelly (Shelton, Conn.) with 26 seconds left, but could come no closer.
The Bobcats finished non-conference play having gone through six games decided by two points or less, five of which had buzzer-beater attempts to win.
Kelly just missed his second career double-double, finishing with 12 points, nine assists and one turnover. He had 16 assists and one turnover in two games this week, including his seven-assist, no-turnover effort in a one-point loss at Drexel on Monday.
After Vermont built a 13-7 lead, freshman forward Jacob Rigoni (Adelaide, Australia) came off the bench to hit back to back threes to tie the score 13-13, but Vermont built a lead up to as many as 17 (39-22) before the Bobcats closed to 39-26 at the break.
The first four Quinnipiac baskets were all three-pointers, before Rigoni scored off a post move with just under six minutes left.
Senior guard Cameron Young (Los Angeles, Calif.) and graduate guard Isaiah Washington (Williamsport, Pa.) started the second half with three-pointers to get the Bobcats within 42-32.
The Bobcats finally got the lead down to single digits at 60-51 with just over seven minutes left on a Rigoni three-pointer.
Young and Rigoni each finished with four three-pointers, while Washington had three. The Bobcats finished with 13 threes as a team.
Rigoni's 17 points marked his second-highest total, behind only the 20 he had in a win over Columbia on Dec. 4.
Kelly's nine assists matched his second-highest total, which he had on opening day against Dartmouth. He had a personal best of 10 in the Columbia win.

QUINNIPIAC STAT LEADERS
Points: Cameron Young 18, Jacob Rigoni 17, Isaiah Washington 12, Rich Kelly 12
Rebounds: Abdulai Bundu 7
Assists: Rich Kelly 9

VERMONT STAT LEADERS
Points: Anthony Lamb 20, Trae Bell-Haynes 16
Rebounds: Trae Bell-Haynes 8 Anthony Lamb 6
Assists: Trae Bell-Haynes 5

UPCOMING GAMES
Quinnipiac has a week off for the holidays before starting MAAC play with a home game against Monmouth on Thursday, Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m.