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Trimboli spearheads Vermont upset of Boston College

Nov 14, 2006 - 2:22 AM CHESTNUT HILL, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- It may not be the Atlantic Coast Conference, but Mike Trimboli showed Boston College that the America East also plays a good brand of basketball.

The America East Rookie of the Year scored 17 points, controlled the offense and Vermont dominated the boards en route to a 77-63 upset over No. 14 Eagles.

Trimboli, a 5-10 sophomore point guard, shot 6-of-13, including 3-of-5 from the arc, and handed out eight assists for the Catamounts.

"Trimboli is our leader. He is the guy who runs the show," Vermont coach Mike Lonergan said. "He more than held his own against some very experienced, talented players."

Vermont shot 49 (29-for-59) percent and held a 48-39 edge on the backboards, including 16 offensive rebounds.

"I think anytime you can come into an ACC team's gym and you can win on their floor, especially if they are ranked, it is a huge win for our program, a huge win for our season," Vermont forward Martin Klimes said. "I'm really excited for the guys, they worked so hard and really played well tonight."

Boston College (1-1) took an early 7-5 lead before Vermont (2-1), which returned all five starters from a club that advanced to its fourth straight conference title game last season, took charge with a 36-20 run, opening a 17-point bulge at one time and taking a 41-27 lead at the half.

"It's a growing process for us," Boston College coach Al Skinner said. "In some areas we have some maturity and in some areas we don't, and it's important as a unit that we show that and tonight we didn't.

"This team is trying to establish our identity and the first half was an indication of what we can't do."

Vermont shot 58 percent (15-of-26) in the half, led by Trimboli's 12 points, and held Boston College to just 27 percent (9-of-33). A switch from man-to-man to zone early in the half seemed to stifle the Eagles, who could not get the ball inside and shot just 2-of-10 from the arc.

Boston College came out more inspired after intermission, cutting the edge to 48-39 with 15:28 remaining, but Vermont countered on a 3-pointer and follow shot by 6-10 center Chris Holm, another follow shot by Colin McIntosh and a free throw by Klimes to push the edge back to 56-39 four minutes later. The Eagles did not get any closer than 11 thereafter.

"It didn't matter who we played tonight, that's clear," Skinner said. "I don't want to take anything away from Vermont; they played a good ballgame and did what they had to do, but we were not beating anybody tonight."

Holm finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds and freshman Joe Trapani added 13 for the Catamounts, who were 5-of-11 from the arc.

"I thought Chris Holm had a huge game for us," Lonergan said. "I challenged him at shootaround today and I don't think he was too happy about it. I said, 'You should try to be an all-league player, you are a fifth-year senior and you're going to play against a freshman and a sophomore tonight.' And and he did a great job just clogging up the lane on some of their drives."

Jared Dudley had 19 points and 14 rebounds, including 10 off the offensive glass, for the Eagles, who shot just 30 percent (19-of-63) and were just 5-of-23 from the arc.

"I can say that the better team won," Dudley said. "They clearly outplayed us in every phase of the game; that is what happens, though, and it is about how you bounce back. It's one loss. Nobody cares what you do in October or November, it's what you do in March."

Boston College point guard Tyrese Rice added 14 points and shot 4-of-10 from the arc but committed five turnovers. Swingman Sean Marshall scored just eight points on 2-of-11 shooting before fouling out with two minutes left.

"Me personally, I got a little frustrated out there and started to force the issue a little bit," Rice said. "Basically (I) have to value the basketball; but as a team we were just in a rush, we have to slow down and get a little more patient".

Boston College played without center Sean Williams and forward Akida McClain, both serving suspensions.