BU loses its America East opener to Vermont, 83-69

By Shep Hayes/DFP Staff

After losing its last six games and ending the non-conference portion of its schedule with a record of 4-10, the Boston University men’s basketball team traveled to Burlington, Vt., Thursday night in search of a victory against the reigning America East regular-season champion to commence conference play.

The Terriers would not find a W.

BU fell to the University of Vermont, 83-69, at Patrick Gymnasium, despite the Terriers entering the locker room at the half down only four points, 33-29. The Catamounts were able to pull away for the win with eight more free-throw attempts and completions and three more two-point field goals than the Terriers.

Vermont pulled away with a six-point run toward the beginning of the second half. The Terriers, however, were able to pull the game closer and were within six points with 12:14 remaining in the half. The Catamounts spent the next nine minutes distancing themselves from BU for the win.

Senior guard Darryl Partin led BU with 19 points, going 6-for-16 from the field with three baskets from beyond the arc. Thursday night marks his sixth straight performance under 20 points. Partin’s last major scoring game came during the Terriers' first trip to Philadelphia to face Saint Joseph’s University on Dec. 7.

After last night, according to Basketball State, Partin slipped down to a three-way tie with Alex Young of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and Juan’ya Green of Niagara University for 14th in the nation in scoring. All three have averaged 20.0 points per game this season.

Sophomore forward Dom Morris had 11 defensive rebounds, leading the Terriers with eight on the defensive end. Both Morris and senior forward Patrick Hazel had three offensive rebounds. Hazel was also BU’s leading shot blocker, slapping four shots away from the basket.

Sophomore guard D.J. Irving, who has not played in over three weeks after he sustained a concussion at Villanova University, returned to play 27 minutes against UVM. He was 1-for-8, his
lone basket worth three points. He did lead BU with three assists.

After shooting poorly in the first half, freshman guard Four McGlynn ended the game leading the Catamounts in scoring with 20 points, shooting 6-for-12. He was closely followed by senior forward Matt Glass, who went 8-for-12 and had 19 points. Sophomore forward Brian Voelkel was UVM’s dominant rebounder by far, with three offensive and 13 defensive boards. He also led the Catamounts with six assists.

In the end, BU coach Joe Jones was not happy with how his team played overall, a theme he reiterated on a regular basis.

“We did not play disciplined basketball on both ends of the floor," Jones said. "We played very undisciplined tonight. Period.”