BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP)—Marqus Blakely hit one of two free throws with 9.5 seconds left as Vermont held off Buffalo’s late charge in a 58-57 win on Sunday.
Blakely’s free throw was the first Vermont point since Evan Fjeld’s layup 3 minutes earlier, which helped Buffalo (0-1) make it close in the end.
Fjeld’s shot put the Catamounts (1-1) up 57-52, but the Bulls put together a 5-0 run thanks to three free throws and a Calvin Betts layup to tie the game at 57-all with 41 seconds remaining. But Max Boudreau’s foul put Blakely on the line for the win.
Blakely led the Catamounts with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Maurice Joseph and Nick Vier scored 12 points apiece.
Titus Robinson was the lone Bulls player in double figures, scoring 16 points.
Vermont leads the all-time series 3-0, winning last season and in the first matchup in the 1961-62 season.
