Sands Matches Career High With 15 Points For Bulldogs

NEW HAVEN, Conn.  - Every time it looked like the Yale men's basketball team was ready to overtake Vermont in Monday's non-league game, the Catamounts had an answer. UVM's final response was too much for the Bulldogs to overcome. Vermont outscored Yale 10-0 over the final 2 minutes, 29 seconds en route to a 72-60 at the John J. Lee Amphitheater.

"We played pretty well for 35 minutes," said James Jones, The Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of Men's Basketball. "In the last five minutes we got out of our comfort zone. We started to make plays on our own and had some costly turnovers."

Nick Vier led the Catamounts with 17 points. Joey Accaoui added 14 points and Maurice Joseph scored 13.

Michael Sands matched his career-high with 15 points for the Bulldogs. Alex Zampier scored 13 points, but was just 4-of-16 from the field. Jordan Gibson had eight points and six steals and Porter Braswell scored six points. Paul Nelson contributed a team-high seven rebounds.

The Catamounts, who have played all 10 of their games away from home, won their fourth straight to improve to 6-4 overall.

Nelson's layup pulled the Bulldogs within 62-60 with 2:54 left. Maurice Joseph, though, answered with a well contested three-pointer from the wing, and after Zampier was called for an offensive foul, Vier's driving layup made it 67-60 with 1:47 left. The Catamounts then made five free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

"We've been in some close games that we've pulled out, but coming down the stretch you have to execute and we didn't do that tonight," said Sands.

Vermont shot 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from three-point range in the game, while the Bulldogs connected on just one of 14 treys. The Catamounts also outscored Yale 16-11 from the foul line.

The Bulldogs (3-6) got off to a good start and led 13-8 after six minutes. UVM, though, took their first lead on Garvey Young's jumper midway through the first half. The Catamounts extended the advantage to eight before the Bulldogs closed the half with a 9-3 run, capped by a Josh Davis putback, which cut the deficit to 34-32 at the intermission.

Vermont shot 57.1 percent from the field in the first half, but a 23-12 rebounding edge helped keep Yale in the game.

The Catamounts led by eight midway through the second half, but the Bulldogs again battled back.

"Our team works very hard, and I thought we gave a good defensive effort," Sands said.

Sands finished 6-of-10 from the field and added six rebounds, two assists and a steal in 30 minutes.

"I just try to be open at the right time," said Sands, who has now reached double figures in scoring in five games. "I'm building confidence in my mid-level jump shot.

The Bulldogs, who were playing only their second home game, are right back at Lee Amphitheater on Wednesday when they host Bryant. The game is part of a doubleheader with the Yale women, who host Boston University at 5:30 p.m.

Report filed by Tim Bennett, Yale Sports Publicity