ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)Marqus Blakely had 19 points and 12 rebounds on Saturday as Vermont beat Albany 79-70, costing the Great Danes their premiere home game.
Mike Trimboli had 20 points, and Colin McIntosh added 18 as the Catamounts (17-7, 7-4 America East) won the late-season game known as the Big Purple Growl.
Vermont had to hold off a late charge by the Great Danes, who cut the lead to 61-58 with 2:33 remaining after trailing by as many as 11 points in the second half. Then Will Harris missed the front end of a 1-and-1 opportunity, and McIntosh answered with a 3-pointer.
Tim Ambrose had 29 points for Albany (13-10, 5-5 AE), despite playing less than two minutes in the first half; he returned in the second. Louis Barraza came off the bench to add 17 points, including five 3-pointers.
Trimboli beat the buzzer with a one-handed jumper as Vermont took a 34-28 lead into halftime.
