Vermont 70, Boston U. 57

1/25/2008 10:43 PM

BOSTON (AP) -Marqus Blakely scored 17 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds Friday night to lead Vermont to its fourth straight victory, a 70-57 America East triumph over Boston University.

Blakely, the current conference Player of the Week, got his sixth double-double of the season and his second in a row in leading the Catamounts (10-9, 5-2) to the nationally televised win.

BU lost for the eighth time in its last 10 games and fell to 5-14, 2-5 in league play.

Blakely, who also had three assists, two blocked shots and a steal, led a list of four Catamounts in double figures as Vermont won for the seventh time in its last nine games. Nick Vier added a career-high 13 points and played a strong defensive game, Mike Trimboli had 12 points - seven under his season average - and six assists and Kyle Cieplicki scored 11 off the bench.

Tyler Morris and John Holland scored 13 points apiece for the Terriers, all in the second half. Holland had seven rebounds and Carlos Strong added 11 points as BU played its third straight game without scoring leader Corey Lowe, out with a leg injury.

The Terriers closed a nine-point deficit to four with 4:44 remaining but Vermont went on a quick 8-0 run over a 1:27 span to keep control.

BU came back with the help of technical fouls called against Blakely and Trimboli 1:22 apart, both for arguing with officials.