LEE, N.H. (Interstat) — The Vermont Catamounts opened America East Conference play with a decisive road victory, defeating the New Hampshire Wildcats 80-61 on Saturday at Lundholm Gym.

Vermont, which improved to 9-7 overall and 1-0 in league play, used a balanced offensive attack and stifling defense to pull away in the second half. The Catamounts shot 53.3% from the field and held New Hampshire to 42.3% shooting while forcing 14 turnovers.

Sean Blake led Vermont with 17 points, six assists and five rebounds, orchestrating the offense efficiently. Gus Yalden added 18 points and five rebounds, while TJ Hurley contributed 20 points. The trio combined for 55 of Vermont’s 80 points.

New Hampshire, which fell to 4-10 and 0-1, was led by Kijan Robinson’s game-high 22 points. Belal El Shakery added 11 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Wildcats.

The game’s most critical sequence came early in the second half, turning a competitive contest into a comfortable Vermont lead. After taking a 39-31 advantage into halftime, the Catamounts opened the second period with a 10-2 run. Yalden scored five quick points, including a 3-pointer, and Hurley added a 3-pointer of his own, pushing the lead to 49-33 and forcing a New Hampshire timeout just over two minutes into the half.

The Wildcats never recovered. Vermont’s lead ballooned to as many as 24 points in the closing minutes as the Catamounts consistently generated high-percentage shots, scoring 42 points in the paint, and capitalized on New Hampshire’s mistakes, scoring 12 points off turnovers.

Vermont’s offensive efficiency was a hallmark of the win. The Catamounts scored 80 points on 66 possessions, an offensive rating of 120.7, while New Hampshire managed just 61 points on the same number of possessions, a rating of 92.8. Vermont also dominated the glass, outrebounding New Hampshire 35-24.

The Catamounts have now won four of their last five games, bouncing back from an overtime loss at Princeton earlier in the week. New Hampshire has lost three straight, including a 31-point defeat at Nebraska in its previous outing.

Vermont entered the game as a 7.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, and the combined score of 141 points fell under the pregame over/under line of 137.5. National statistical models gave Vermont a nearly 80% chance to win.

The Catamounts return home to host Binghamton on Thursday. New Hampshire travels to face NJIT on the same night. The two teams will meet again in Burlington on Feb. 7.