Balanced Vermont hands Hartford 1st AEC loss 74-57

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Robin Duncan scored 11 points off the bench, Everett Duncan added 10 and hot-shooting Vermont knocked off conference leader Hartford 74-57 on Saturday.

Vermont (13-6, 3-1 America East Conference) broke away late in the first half to lead 37-27 at the break and didn’t slow down, shooting 51% from the field. Stef Smith added 10 points for the Catamounts while Anthony Lamb scored eight points with eight rebounds and Bailey Patella had eight points with seven boards.

Malik Ellison had 19 points and eight rebounds to lead the Hawks (10-9, 3-1). Hunter Marks added 17 points. Hartford came into the game winners of seven of its last eight. The Hawks haven’t beaten Vermont since 2018 when they halted the Catamounts’ 33-game conference win streak.

Vermont takes on Maine on the road on Wednesday. Hartford matches up against Maryland-Baltimore County at home on Wednesday.