Anthony Lamb scored thirty points and the Vermont Catamounts gave the Virginia Cavaliers their first test of the season, but the Hoos survived with a 61-55 victory to remain unbeaten.
After a defensive standoff in the first half, which had the Cavaliers holding a 24-18 lead at halftime, Vermont’s Anthony Lamb got hot, scoring 25 of his 30 points in the second half in an offensive showing that reminded many of Carsen Edwards’ performance in last year’s Elite Eight.
The Hoos were able to keep pace offensively, however, responding to Lamb’s onslaught of three pointers with buckets of their own to keep the score tight throughout the second half. Mamadi Diakite lead the way for the Cavaliers with 19 points and 6 rebounds. Kihei Clark and Braxton Key joined Diakite in double figures with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Diakite tightened his defense on Anthony Lamb down the stretch, crucially holding the Catamounts’ star scoreless in the last five and a half minutes of the game and allowing the Hoos to seal the victory.
Vermont is the first opponent to score over fifty points on the Cavaliers this season, but Vermont is likely an NCAA tournament team and this was a good test for UVA in non-conference play. Virginia is back in action again this Saturday against Massachusetts in Connecticut for the Air Force Reserve Hall of Fame Tip-Off.
Article recap by Matt Newton
Produced by Heather Thomas and Sydney Seligman
Photography: Jack Mulquin
Select footage courtesy of Virginia Athletics
