BURLINGTON, Vermont — The Vermont Catamounts surged to a 24-point lead during the first half and rolled to a 68-49 America East men’s basketball victory over the Maine Black Bears on Tuesday night at Patrick Gym.
The Catamounts used offensive balance to bury the Black Bears while shooting 56.5 percent (26 of 46) from the field and holding Maine to a 32 percent effort (16 of 50).
Dre Wills and Cam Ward each scored 14 points to pace Vermont while Kurt Steidl added 13, 11 in the first half. Brendan Kilpatrick chipped in with 10 points. Wills also had four assists and five rebounds.
Kevin Little sparked Maine with 17 points in 39 minutes of action. Shaun Lawton added 12 points and Till Gloger netted nine.
Vermont improved to 13-10 overall and 8-2 in America East while Maine slipped to 2-21 and 1-9, respectively.
The Black Bears did battle in the second half with an 8-2 scoring surge to cut Vermont’s lead to 54-44 with 9:14 left in the game. Lawton converted a conventional three-point play to lead the surge and Little nailed a 3-pointer.
Vermont responded, however, with 10 unanswered points to put the game away with a 64-44 advantage with 4:41 remaining.
The Catamounts outrebounded the Black Bears 32-26.
The Catamounts shot 52 percent from the floor in the first half, and held the Black Bears to a 28 percent effort.
Vermont also outrebounded Maine 21-12 in the first half.
Maine returns to action when it hosts Binghamton at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.