Big Green Come Up Short Against Vermont, 63-58

Tuesday, December 1

Hanover, N.H.

7:00 p.m.

Dartmouth College

1-5

VERMONT

4-4

Vermont

Dartmouth

Big Green Come Up Short Against Vermont, 63-58

12/1/2009 8:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Dartmouth

Boxscore

HANOVER, N.H. — Dartmouth held two-time America East Player of the Year Marqus Blakely to just 10 points, but reserve guard Joey Accaoui poured in a career-high 17 to lead visiting Vermont (4-4) to a 63-58 victory over the Big Green on Tuesday night at Leede Arena. Junior Clive Weeden registered his second double-double of the year with a career-best 14 points and 10 rebounds for Dartmouth (1-5).

Blakely did finish the game with a double-double, grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds, but the Big Green defense limited him to just six shots while forcing him into five turnovers. Accaoui picked up the scoring slack by hitting 6-of-7 field goals with a three-pointer and all four of his foul shots. Maurice Joseph chipped in 15 points to help the Catamounts win for the 10th time in the last 11 games in the series.

Most of Weeden's scoring came from the free throw line as he connected on 8-of-10 from the charity stripe. Joining Weeden in double figures was junior Ronnie Dixon, who nearly matched Accaoui by connecting of 5-of-6 from the floor with a trifecta and a pair of free throws for 13 points. Sophomore Jabari Trotter pitched in 10 points as well. As a team, Dartmouth struggled shooting the ball, managing just 35.5 percent (22-of-62) and 23.5 percent (4-of-17) from long range.

Vermont began the game by scoring the first six points by pounding the offensive glass and picking up a couple steals. After Big Green coach Terry Dunn called a timeout, Dartmouth righted itself and ran off 10 straight points, the final two coming on a beautiful fast-break scoop shot up by Dixon.

The two sides mostly traded the next nine points before the Catamounts strung together a 12-0 run, with half coming on a pair of Joseph three-pointers. Facing a nine-point deficit at 28-19 with three minutes left in the half, Weeden helped the Big Green start on the road back with two free throws and a three-point play. But at the break, Vermont held a six-point edge at 34-28, thanks to superior rebounding with 21 boards compared to 11 for Dartmouth.

In the second half, the Green utilized a swarming defense early to generate some fast-break opportunities and tie the score at 38. Sophomore David Rufful assisted on two consecutive layups, one to Dixon and the other to Weeden, to get Dartmouth back to even.

The Big Green had plenty of chances to take the lead but misfired on three straight possessions, the last coming on a layup that just rolled off the rim. It was Accaoui that broke the tie for good with a layup of his own and came up with the next seven Catamount points as well to take care of most of an 11-3 spurt.

Still Dartmouth continued to fight back with Rufful hitting a short jumper in the lane and Dixon drilling his three to get back to within three at 49-46. And when Weeden grabbed a rebound at the other end, the Big Green looked to tie with a three-pointer out of Rufful's hands. The shot would not fall, however, which led to a run-out layup by Joseph as he was fouled. The 96 percent free throw shooter completed the three-point play to boost the lead back to six with 5:22 to play.

Three minutes later, Vermont owned an eight-point edge before Dixon hit two free throws with 1:15 on the clock. The Green went to fouling, but the Catamounts foiled the strategy by hitting 7-of-8 at the line to close the door.

While Vermont held a 40-31 rebounding edge, Dartmouth hauled in more boards in the second half, 20-19. And after grabbing six offensive caroms in the first eight minutes, the Catamounts could only snare two more the rest of the game as the Big Green sealed off the glass.

Dartmouth has 10 days off for exams before hitting the hardwood again when Army comes to town on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. The Catamounts will play their ninth of 10 straight road games to start the season when they take on NJIT this Saturday at 2 p.m.