Live updates: Vermont vs. Marquette in NCAA Tournament first-round game
EARLY STORY: Marquette runs past Vermont 78-61.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Can the University of Vermont men's basketball team become a darling of the NCAA Tournament?
Or will the Catamounts' fate of recent years — upset bids falling just short — tell the tale on Friday?
The America East Conference champion and No. 15 seed Vermont (23-10) will look to prolong its season against the best of the Big East, the two-seed Marquette Eagles (28-6) in a first-round contest at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
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The Catamounts have won 15 games in a row and will play in their ninth NCAA Tournament in program history, all coming since 2003. In recent March Madness appearances, Vermont has come close against Purdue (2017), Florida State (2019) and Arkansas (2022).
Marquette captured the outright regular-season title and tournament championship in the Big East for the first time since joining the conference in 2005.
LIVE UPDATES FROM UVM'S NCAA TOURNEY GAME
Final: Marquette 78, Vermont 61
Kam Jones scored 18 of his 19 points in the second to send the Golden Eagles to the second round. Jones led all scorers followed by Oso Ighodaro with 14. Vermont was paced by Veretto, Penn and Duncan with 11 points each.
9:13 to play in the second half
Marquette starting to pull away behind Jones' play and lead 66-46 on Olivier-Maxence Prosper's free throws.
10:40 to play in the second half
Kam Jones spins a tough finish off the glass as he scores 13 straight points to push Marquette to a 58-44 lead. The guard has 14 points in the game on 5 of 6 from the floor.
13:45 to play in the second half
Marquette scores five straight points to build a 10-point lead (50-40).
15:19 to play in the second half
Finn Sullivan finishes inside to cut the Golden Eagles' lead to 45-40 to play but on the ensuing possession Robin Duncan was called for this third foul on a Marquette drive. Vermont is on a 10-4 run.
Start of the second half
Kolek tagged with his third foul on a Veretto 3-pointer. Veretto makes 2 of 3 at the line for a 41-34 Golden Eagles lead.
Halftime: Marquette 39, Vermont 30
David Joplin leads all scorers with 10 points (4 of 6 shooting) as Marquette (15 of 30) has three players with 8. Vermont is shooting 48% from the field (6 of 12 from 3) with Penn and Veretto leading the group. Golden Eagles are winning the rebounding margin 17-13 and with five offensive boards.
1:07 to play in the first half
Penn (9 points) drives and finishes for a 36-30 Marquette lead and forces Shaka Smart to call time.
2:58 to play in the first half
Matt Veretto (team-high 9 points) cans a triple from the top of the key to cut the deficit to 36-28.
7:23 to play in the first half
Vermont up to six team fouls as the Golden Eagles lead 24-18.
7:53 to play in the first half
Marquette leads 24-18 with 14 points in paint. Robin Duncan picked up his second foul with 8:42 left.
10:41 to play in the first half
Dylan Penn rattles in corner trey to pull Vermont with three (18-15). Vermont shooting 42.9% from 3 (3 of 7 to start).
15:32 to play in first half
Marquette out to a 7-5 lead at the first media timeout. Marquette starts out shooting 5 of 9 from the field. Tyler Kolek was removed from the game holding his right hand/wrist. But returned from the locker room shortly after.
TV, radio, stream information
Teams: (15) Vermont vs. (2) Marquette
Site: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio
Date: Friday, March 17
Tip-off: 2:45 p.m. eastern (approx.)
TV: CBS (WCAX locally).
Commentators: Andrew Catalon and Steve Lappa; sideline reporter Jamie Erdahl.
Stream: March Madness Live (sign-in with TV provider or app).
Radio: The Game (97.1 FM, 960 AM).
Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: NCAA Tournament: Live updates for Vermont basketball vs. Marquette
