BURLINGTON, VT. – The University of Maine men's basketball team could not respond to a red-hot first half shooting performance from Vermont, falling to the Catamounts 86-63 on Wednesday night at Patrick Gymnasium. Isaiah White led the Black Bears with 21 points, knocking down 8-of-14 from the floor, while picking up four rebounds, distributing three assists and earning three steals in 34 minutes played.
 
Andrew Fleming got back on track with 16 points and four rebounds and two steals in 38 minutes played. Sergio El Darwich also reached double-figures in scoring, totaling 11 points and three assists. In 16 minutes played, Vincent Eze tallied six points and six rebounds to lead the Black Bears on the boards.
 
The Catamounts (18-5, 8-1 AE) shot a red-hot 72.0 percent (18-25 FG) over the first 20 minutes, draining 11-of-15 from long distance, while the Black Bears (5-19, 3-6 AE) countered to shoot 50 percent (12-24 FG), while sinking 3-of-5 from 3-point land in the opening frame.
 
With the hot-shooting start, Vermont raced to a 15-4 mark after four minutes of play. Maine fought back with a 3-pointer from Terion Moss and a layup from White to cut the deficit to six at 15-9. The two squads traded baskets, until they extended their lead to 17-points at 35-18 following 20-9 sprint by Vermont with 7:32 on the clock. The Catamounts would take a 16-point lead into the locker room at 49-33.
 
Maine got as cut the Vermont lead to as a low as 14-points twice in the second half at 53-39 and 56-42, the first-place Catamounts outscored Maine 37-30 in the second frame, to earn its eighth win in America East by a score of 86-63.
 
Ernie Duncan (26 pts.) and Anthony Lamb (24 pts) shined for the Catamounts, going a combined 15-for-17 from the field. Maine outscored Vermont in the paint by a mark of 28-22.
 
Maine returns home to the Cross Insurance Center on Sunday, when the Black Bears battle defending America East Champion UMBC. The opening tip in Bangor is slated for 1:00 p.m. against the Retrievers.
 
-UMaine-