Nevada 74, Vermont 64 -- BOX SCORE
RENO, Nev. - Nick Fazekas scored 31 points to lead WAC leader Nevada to a 74-64 win over Vermont in front of 10,237 fans at the Lawlor Events Center Saturday. The game, televised nationally, was one of the marquee matchups on ESPN's Bracket Buster Saturday. It pitted Nevada, the top team in the WAC, against the Catamounts, the first place team in the America East. Vermont (19-5, 14-1 America East) was led by T.J. Sorrentine (Pawtucket, R.I.) who had 24 points and five assists. "I love my team and I love the way they competed today," said Vermont head coach Tom Brennan. 'It does not bother me a bit that they lost a game today like this to such a good team on their home court. We will find the best steakhouse in Reno tonight and then head home to try and beat New Hampshire on Monday." UVM, behind Sorrentine's 4-for-4 effort, made seven three-pointers in 13 attempts in the first half to take a 38-34 lead. The Wolf Pack (20-5, 12-2 WAC) rallied behind Fazekas and a tighter defense around the perimeter as the Cats went just 1-for-14 from three-point range in the second half. It marked the first time in 17 games that Vermont lost when leading at halftime. After the break, Fazekas had five quick points on a 13-4 run to open the second half and put Nevada ahead 47-42 with 14:50 left. Sorrentine cut through the defenders for consecutive layups to pull Vermont to within 51-50 at 12:10. But Nevada answered with a 9-2 run to go up 60-52 on Mo Charlo's bank shot at 7:34. Josh Duell (Scotia, N.Y.) hit from 17 feet and Taylor Coppenrath scored inside to cut Nevada's lead to 62-58 with 3:43 left. But Fazekas scored off a rebound and added a pair of free throws for a 67-60 lead at 1:47, and Charlo made four free throws and Sessions two in the final 46 seconds to secure the win. Coppenrath added 18 points and six rebounds while Germain Mopa Njila (Yaounde, Cameroon) chipped in with seven points and a team-high 11 boards. Duell also added seven points and four rebounds. Nevada outrebounded UVM, 37-36, and only committed seven turnovers while forcing14 by Vermont. In addition to Fazekas, who also had a game-high 14 rebounds, impressive freshman guard Ramon Sessions had 16 points and was the only other Wolf Pack player in double figures. The Catamounts return east and back to conference play with their last two regular season home games. The homestand starts Monday when they host New Hampshire at 7:00pm. The game is sold out.
RENO, Nev. - Nick Fazekas scored 31 points to lead WAC leader Nevada to a 74-64 win over Vermont in front of 10,237 fans at the Lawlor Events Center Saturday. The game, televised nationally, was one of the marquee matchups on ESPN's Bracket Buster Saturday. It pitted Nevada, the top team in the WAC, against the Catamounts, the first place team in the America East. Vermont (19-5, 14-1 America East) was led by T.J. Sorrentine (Pawtucket, R.I.) who had 24 points and five assists. "I love my team and I love the way they competed today," said Vermont head coach Tom Brennan. 'It does not bother me a bit that they lost a game today like this to such a good team on their home court. We will find the best steakhouse in Reno tonight and then head home to try and beat New Hampshire on Monday." UVM, behind Sorrentine's 4-for-4 effort, made seven three-pointers in 13 attempts in the first half to take a 38-34 lead. The Wolf Pack (20-5, 12-2 WAC) rallied behind Fazekas and a tighter defense around the perimeter as the Cats went just 1-for-14 from three-point range in the second half. It marked the first time in 17 games that Vermont lost when leading at halftime. After the break, Fazekas had five quick points on a 13-4 run to open the second half and put Nevada ahead 47-42 with 14:50 left. Sorrentine cut through the defenders for consecutive layups to pull Vermont to within 51-50 at 12:10. But Nevada answered with a 9-2 run to go up 60-52 on Mo Charlo's bank shot at 7:34. Josh Duell (Scotia, N.Y.) hit from 17 feet and Taylor Coppenrath scored inside to cut Nevada's lead to 62-58 with 3:43 left. But Fazekas scored off a rebound and added a pair of free throws for a 67-60 lead at 1:47, and Charlo made four free throws and Sessions two in the final 46 seconds to secure the win. Coppenrath added 18 points and six rebounds while Germain Mopa Njila (Yaounde, Cameroon) chipped in with seven points and a team-high 11 boards. Duell also added seven points and four rebounds. Nevada outrebounded UVM, 37-36, and only committed seven turnovers while forcing14 by Vermont. In addition to Fazekas, who also had a game-high 14 rebounds, impressive freshman guard Ramon Sessions had 16 points and was the only other Wolf Pack player in double figures. The Catamounts return east and back to conference play with their last two regular season home games. The homestand starts Monday when they host New Hampshire at 7:00pm. The game is sold out.