Boston University
7-9, 1-2AE
Vermont
9-6, 2-1AE
Terriers Finish Strong in 63-53 Victory over Vermont
January 8, 2013 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2013
Box Score | Highlights | Morris' postgame comments
BOSTON - Junior D.J. Irving scored a game-high 20 points and junior Dom Morris recorded his third double-double of the season to lift the Boston University men's basketball team to a 63-53 victory over Vermont at The Roof on Tuesday night.
Leading 47-46 with 4:30 remaining, the Terriers (7-9, 1-2 AE) scored the game's next 10 points over the following three minutes and went on to snap a two-game losing streak to the defending America East champions. Falling to 9-6 and 2-1 in league play, the Catamounts were held to 27.3 percent shooting.
Named America East Player of the Game, Morris went 7-of-11 from the field for 17 points and added a game-high 10 rebounds. Shooting 8-of-10 at the charity stripe, Irving was the other Terrier in double figures, as BU shot 54.5 percent in the second half to finish the game 21-of-47 (.447). Playing a season-high 36 minutes off the bench, freshman John Papale tallied nine points and three steals.
Sandro Carissimo recorded 14 of his team-high 17 points in the second half to earn AE Player of the Game honors for Vermont, while Trey Blue and Clancy Rugg both finished with 10 points apiece. A preseason All-Conference honoree, Brian Voelkel had six points and nine rebounds. Starters Luke Apfeld and Candon Rusin along with Voelkel entered the game averaging a combined 25.8 ppg but were neutralized, shooting a combined 0-of-18 on the night.
Coming off a 70-45 victory over Albany, the Catamounts seemed on their way to a similar performance against BU, holding the Terriers to just six points through the first 10 minutes of action. Blue drained a 3-pointer on consecutive Vermont possessions to grab an 18-8 lead with 8:59 left in the first half.
Trailing 20-10 one minute later, Papale hit a trey to ignite a 10-1 run capped by a layup from freshman Maurice Watson Jr. at 4:07. Neither team hit a field goal the rest of the half, as Vermont brought a 24-22 lead into the locker room.
BU opened the second stanza strong with seven straight points behind a 3-pointer from Irving and a layup plus two free throws from Morris to grab a 29-24 advantage at 17:17. After missing their 14th straight field goal attempt going back to the middle of the first half, the Catamounts finally got the ball through the rim off the hands of Carissimo.
He scored Vermont's next nine points to give the Catamounts their final lead of the game, 33-31, with 14:12 left in regulation. BU took the lead for good with an 8-0 spurt from the free throw line to pull ahead, 38-33, at 10:24.
The game went back and forth with BU never relinquishing its lead despite the Catamounts cutting the deficit to one at 7:11 (40-39) and on three more occasions. Playing a season-high 17 minutes, sophomore Zach Chionuma drained a 3-pointer at 5:27, but Carissimo came right back with his third trey of the game. Morris and Clancy Rugg exchanged layups before Morris added another to ignite a 10-0 run.
Irving hit a jumper and Watson followed with five straight points behind a 3-pointer and fastbreak layup after grabbing two defensive rebounds to give BU a 57-46 lead with 1:42 left. Shooting 14-of-18 at the line in the second half, the Terriers finished 16-of-23 (.696) to improve to 54-44 in the all-time series dating back to 1921.
The Catamounts went 18-of-25 (.720) from the charity stripe and shot 15-of-55 overall, including 5-of-25 in 3-point territory. Vermont edged BU in the rebound battle, 37-36, but the Terriers posted a 26-18 advantage in points in the paint.
The Terriers will conclude its three-game homestand on Saturday (Jan. 12) against Binghamton at 3 p.m. The game will immediately follow the conclusion of the women's game between BU and the Bearcats.
The doubleheader highlights Youth Basketball Day at Case Gym. All youth basketball teams who purchase group tickets will be eligible to win a private practice with the BU Basketball teams. There will also be a post-game shoot around with the teams following the men's game. For more information click here. Also, the first 500 fans will receive a free mini basketball hoop.
