The University of Vermont men's basketball team defeated Brown University 89-84 in double overtime on Sunday at the Pizzitola Sports Center. TJ Long led Vermont with a career-high 40 points and 13 rebounds in the victory. The game featured multiple lead changes and a dramatic tie in the final seconds of the first overtime.
The Brown Bears, now 0-2 overall and 0-0 in Ivy League play, hosted the Vermont Catamounts, who improved to 3-0 overall and 0-0 in America East, in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown started strong with a 6-0 run before TJ Hurley scored Vermont's first points at 16:31 of the first half, trailing 6-2. Brown extended their lead to 15-5 with a 9-3 run featuring three three-pointers at 11:50.
Hurley hit a three-pointer at 11:01, but Brown maintained a 20-10 edge at 7:47. The half ended with Brown ahead 32-24 after Vermont's 14-12 run, including six points from Long. In the second half, Brown opened with a 5-0 run to lead 39-28, but Vermont responded with an 11-6 surge, cutting it to 45-39 on four points from Noah Barnett and a three from Ben Johnson.
At 10:42, Long's three-pointer and David Simon's layup brought Vermont within three at 47-44. Long and Jackson Skipper hit back-to-back threes to take the lead at 8:49. Long then drained three straight threes for a 61-51 advantage at 5:32. Brown rallied with a 14-4 run to force overtime at 65-65.
In the first overtime, Barnett's layup gave Vermont a 67-65 lead. Threes from Johnson and Adrian Uchidiuno tied it at 70-70. Long scored six points, but Jeremiah Jenkins' three gave Brown a late lead. With 0.6 seconds left, Hurley banked in a shot to force double overtime.
Vermont outscored Brown in the second overtime, with Long adding five points and Hurley four, securing the 89-84 win. Vermont outrebounded Brown 46-42 and scored 17 points off turnovers. Hurley finished with 18 points on 6-11 shooting, including 2-3 from three, plus four rebounds and one assist. Barnett added 10 points and six rebounds. Sean Blake recorded five assists.