Strong second half leads men’s basketball to victory over Vermont
November 30, 2018
The men’s basketball team overcame a 13-point deficit to defeat Vermont on Nov. 25, improving their record to 2-2. The Bison outscored the Catamounts 49-29 in the second half as they took the court for their first game in 12 days.
Forward Nate Sestina ’19, who returned from a two-game absence, scored 20 points and tallied 10 rebounds for the Bison. Forward Bruce Moore ’20 also proved to be a huge contributor, scoring 14 of his 16 points in the second half. Guard Kimbal Mackenzie ’19 helped facilitate the offense, dishing out six assists to combine with his 13 points. One of his baskets came from a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired with 51 seconds remaining in the game.
The Bison struggled in the first half of their first few games this year, and this game was no different. The Orange and Blue were ice cold in the first half, shooting only 28 percent from the field. Fortunately, a strong defensive performance kept the Bison in the game until their offense found answers. In the second half, everything fell into place. The Bison came out hot, connecting on 57 percent of their field goals and making seven 3-pointers.
“We trust each other,” Mackenzie said. “We don’t give up on one another.”
The Bison, however, will need to fix their first half woes in order to have success as the season progresses.
The Orange and Blue defense was standout in the win, holding Vermont to only 31.7 percent shooting from the field for the entire game. Additionally, the Bison were able to force 14 turnovers. The key to the game was the ability of the Bison to slow down the two best offensive players for Vermont. With Vermont’s two best scorers limited, the Bison were able to lock-up the Catamounts and secure an important road win.
Just four days later, the Orange and Blue faced a strong Northeastern team, ultimately falling 96-78. Moore led the team in scoring with 16 points, yet the Bison were unable to overcome the Huskies 70 percent shooting from the field.
The Bison will next take on Monmouth on Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. in Sojka Pavilion. The game will be a rematch of last season’s 79-78 loss to the Hawks in the Bison’s season opener.
