By Bert Lunay
GAME NOTES
https://miamiredhawks.com/documents/2024/12/18/2024-25_MIAMI_Vermont.pdf
WEDNESDAY: Miami travels northeast to battle with the Vermont Catamounts Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. Heading into this game the RedHawks rank 17th nationally in turnovers forced per game (16.4) and 21st in threes per game (10.6).
ABOUT VERMONT: Vermont is coming off a 28-7 (15-1 America East) season in 2023-24. Head coach John Becker is in his 14th season with the Catamounts. Heading into the 2024-25 season, the America East Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll picked the Catamounts to finish first in the conference (Vermont was a unanimous selection).
Vermont is currently 5-7, as the team is on a three-game losing skid. TJ Hurley leads the team with 14.7 points per game. Hurley stands fifth in the country for his free throw percentage (.956). Shamir Bogues has recorded the most assists per game at 2.2 and Sam Alamutu is second with an average of 1.9 assists. Bogues has also averaged the most steals (1.3). Ileri Ayo-Faleye heads the team in rebounds per game (4.5) and blocks per game (2.4). Ayo-Faleye is sixth nationally in total blocks and blocks per game.
THE SERIES WITH THE CATAMOUNTS: Wednesday will mark the second time Miami and Vermont have faced off. Last season, Darweshi Hunter’s three-point buzzer beater helped the Miami University men’s basketball team edge past Vermont 70-69.
UP NEXT: The RedHawks will return home for a weekend game with Sacred Heart Sunday, Dec. 22 at 1 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT: The Miami University men’s basketball team secured a 112-70 blowout win over Bethany this past Sunday afternoon. 112 points is the eighth-highest team total in team history. The Red and White shot over 50% from three for the first time this season. Miami also had three players score 20 points in a game for the first time since Feb. 23, 2008.
RECORD SETTERS: Against Bethany, Kam Craft scored a career-best 34 points and shot 10-of-16 from the three-point line, tying Jason Stewart (10 vs. Marshall in 2000) for the most made threes in program history. As a team, the RedHawks knocked down a MAC-record (and school record) 22 triples on the day and tied for the second most by any Division I program this season.
COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
