Feb. 9, 2010
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BOSTON - Looking to remain in the hunt for an America East regular season title with only four league games remaining, the Boston University men's basketball team hosts Vermont Tuesday night at Agganis Arena with tip-off set for 7 p.m. on a Comcast SportsNet broadcast. Half a game behind the Catamounts (17-8, 8-3 AE) in the conference standings, the Terriers (13-11, 8-4 AE) have won five of their last six games in the facility.
Fans can also watch the game online at AmericaEast.TV or through ESPN360.
In a contest to feature the No. 1 and 2 scoring offenses in the America East, the Terriers (69.1 ppg) have three of the top 12 scorers, led by John Holland at 18.8 ppg. Last week, he averaged 20.5 ppg to help BU knock off New Hampshire (69-47) and Albany (68-53), including 23 points at Agganis against the Wildcats. Besides ranking fifth in the league at 15.4 ppg, Corey Lowe is also second in assists at 4.7 apg. He is third all-time in the BU scoring record book with 1,689 points.
For them to win though, they will need contributions from others and will have to keep turnovers to a minimum. Carlos Strong recorded a season-high 24 points on Saturday against the Great Danes, hitting 5-for-7 from beyond the arc. Jake O'Brien and Tyler Morris are both averaging in double figures at 13.2 and 10.1 ppg, respectively. Morris posted five assists in that same game, as BU lost the ball only 10 times.
On the defensive end, the Terriers feature three players in the top 10 for steals this season. Holland ranks third at 1.6 spg after posting three steals at Albany to move into 10th place all-time in the BU record book with 135. Strong is close behind in fourth at 1.4 spg, while Lowe is eighth at 1.2 spg. In rebounding, Holland and O'Brien are tied for the team lead (8th - America East) at 6.2 rpg.
They will have to box out a Catamount squad that has the two-time America East player of year, Marqus Blakely. He is second in the conference in scoring (17.4 ppg), rebounding (9.0 rpg), fourth in assists (3.7 apg) and first in blocks at 2.2 bpg. He's led Vermont on a three-game win streak that includes victories against Albany, Maine and UMBC.
The Catamounts have received strong contributions from Maurice Joseph, who's 10th in the league for scoring at 13.7 ppg. Evan Fjeld is third on the team at 9.3 ppg while also averaging 5.9 rebounds per game. The two men have helped the team record the second best scoring margin at 4.8 points per game, just 0.8 points behind Stony Brook.
In the previous meeting between the two programs on Jan. 17 at Patrick Gymnasium, Holland and Lowe combined for 39 points, but the Terriers could not overcome a 4-for-24 first-half shooting performance to fall to 51-40 in the all-time series. The Catamounts had a 33-14 lead entering the locker room and led by as many as 32 in the second half for the 78-58 victory. Having won seven of the last eight meetings now, Vermont shot 49.1 percent from the field and won the battle at the glass, 42-31.
Following the contest, BU will remain at home and host Hartford on Saturday (Feb. 13) in Case Gymnasium with action slated for 4 p.m. in another Comcast SportsNet broadcast.
