Jan. 9, 2011
Box Score | Highlights
BOSTON - Backed by a combined 48 points from senior John Holland and junior Darryl Partin, the Boston University men's basketball team used a 20-6 run midway through the second half to defeat Vermont, 74-65, on Sunday afternoon at Case Gymnasium. Earning their second consecutive conference win in a rematch of the 2010 America East Championship, the Terriers (7-10, 2-1 AE) snapped a five-game losing streak to the Catamounts (11-4, 2-1 AE).
Named BU's America East Player of the Game, Partin shot a sizzling 9-of-12 from the field to finish with 24 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Holland scored 24 as well but with a career-high 15 coming from the charity stripe off 18 attempts. Freshman D.J. Irving was the third Terrier in double figures with a season-high 16 points.
Playing in just his sixth game, junior Jeff Pelage was stellar inside, posting a personal-best six blocks and eight rebounds in 24 minutes of action. With Holland and junior Patrick Hazel combining for 13 boards, the Terriers finished ahead of the league's top rebounding team, 42-30.
The Catamounts' AE Player of the Game Brian Voelkel had a game-high 12 rebounds, while Brendan Bald was the lone player in double figures with 12 points. Vermont shot 42.4 percent from the field but only went 5-of-18 (.278) in 3-point territory for the loss. Evan Fjeld was also neutralized, as he was held to just nine points and three rebounds after entering the game averaging 17.0 ppg and 6.9 rpg.
Following Ben Crenca's layup to give Vermont a 43-40 lead with 13:45 remaining in regulation, Holland scored the Terriers' next 11 points to key the 20-6 run that ended with two made free throws by Irving at 5:29. The Catamounts cut the deficit to seven on a 3-pointer by Brendan Bald four minutes later, but Irving drove to the basket on a fast break to push the lead back to nine after the Catamounts tried to press and grab a steal.
In the first half, neither team led by more than four, as the lead changed seven times. Trailing 18-17 at 9:47 following a Fjeld jumper, Irving hit a layup and then assisted on Partin's 3-pointer to push BU ahead 22-18. Partin's jumper at 4:55 kept the lead at four (28-24), but Vermont's defense held strong and prevented the Terriers from hitting a field goal the rest of the half.
Bald's basket with 1:06 remaining gave Vermont the 30-28 edge, and the Catamounts had the chance to extend it before entering the locker room. However, Joey Accaoui missed a shot, and Holland enticed a foul while driving to the opposite end for a quick shot as the buzzer sounded. He made both free throws to put the game at 30 apiece.
In the second, Holland started with a 3-pointer, and Pelage later followed with a tip-in at 18:13 for the 37-32 advantage. The Catamounts took the lead back though four minutes later on Voelkel's basket and extended it to three on Crenca's layup, setting the stage for the Terriers' offensive surge.
In-between Holland's 11 points and Irving's made free throws, Partin scored straight points off two jumpers and three foul shots that occurred after he drew a foul while attempting a 3-pointer.
With their largest margin of victory over Vermont since an 80-70 win in 2004, the Terriers improve to 52-42 all-time against the Catamounts, which had won nine of the last 10 meetings and had not lost on the road since 2006. UVM entered the contest with a RPI of 53, giving the Terriers their first top-100 win of the season after a 51-50 loss to Hampton (#87) and 52-49 defeat at Bucknell (#90).
Looking for their first three-game win streak of the season, they will next travel to Albany on Saturday, Jan. 15, for a 7 p.m. tip off.
