Red-hot UVM men's basketball cruises past NJIT for sixth straight win

Finn Sullivan drained another six 3-pointers. Vermont broke the 80-point barrier again, too.

Red-hot performances from the University of Vermont men's basketball team have gone from rarity to routine. And Wednesday night was the latest example.

Behind Sullivan's 18 points and four assists and reserve Nick Fiorillo's 18-point, 7-rebound outing, the Catamounts dispatched NJIT with ease, posting an 83-57 America East Conference victory at the Wellness & Events Center.

With its sixth straight win, Vermont improves to 12-4 overall and 4-0 in league play. The Catamounts are averaging 87.5 points a game in their four league victories.

More: The week in UVM athletics: How Catamount basketball, hockey teams fared Jan. 17-23

"It was another great road win," UVM coach John Becker said in a statement. "The guys continue to shoot the ball well. We were better defensively in the second half. The first time playing in the Wellness & Events Center at NJIT was very nice. I hope we get the Tarrant Center built soon so our players and fans can enjoy a first-class facility like this."

Ryan Davis (13 points, seven rebounds) and Ben Shungu (13) also reached double figures for UVM, which shot 59.38% in the first half and finished at 52.5% for the game, with seven players having multi-assist games.

Sullivan, the senior transfer, has as many 3-pointers in last three games (16) than he had in his prior 13 games combined. Wednesday, Sullivan tied a career-high from distance, which he set in last week's win at UMBC. Meanwhile, Fiorillo came off the bench to sink four 3s to highlight his career-high point total.

UVM opened the contest on a 9-0 run. Its lead did not drop below five points, taking a 48-29 advantage into the break. The Cats then pushed the margin to as many as 37 points during a second half that saw NJIT shoot 28.13% from the floor (9 of 32).

UVM also won the rebounding edge, 41-27.

Miles Coleman tallied 16 points and Mekhi Gray added 10 for NJIT, which falls to 8-8, 3-3.

The Cats play host to Hartford on Saturday night at Patrick Gym. Tip-off is set for 7 p.

Women's basketball

Vermont 71, NJIT 49: All five starters reached double figures and Vermont led wire-to-wire rolling past NJIT in an America East Conference tilt at Patrick Gym on Wednesday night.

Anna Olson (15 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 blocks), Josie Larkins (13 points, 8 assists), Emma Utterback (13 points), Catherine Gilwee (12 points) and Delaney Richason (10 points) powered the Catamounts to their seventh home win of the season.

UVM improves to 9-7 overall and 3-2 in league play. NJIT drops to 9-8, 4-2.

The Cats led 38-31 at the break, and then used a 22-8 third quarter to put away the visitors. UVM shot 50% from the floor, handed out 18 assists and scored 18 points off 15 NJIT turnovers.

UVM also outscored NJIT 38-24 in the paint. Kiana Brereton paced the Highlanders with 13 points.

The Cats resume league play Friday with a home afternoon date vs. Hartford. Game time is 2 p.m.

Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: UVM men's basketball: Catamounts cruise past NJIT for 6th straight win