Yalden leads Vermont past Princeton 79-74 at the ESPN Events Invitational
AP
Nov 26, 2025
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) Gus Yalden scored 27 points and Vermont Catamounts scored the last eight points to beat Princeton Tigers 79-74 on Wednesday at the ESPN Events Invitational.
CJ Happy's layup gave Princeton a 74-71 lead with 1:51 to play. Yalden then tied it with a 3-pointer, and his layup with 55 seconds left gave the Catamounts a 76-74 lead. TJ Long added a free throw and Noah Barnett sealed it with a dunk.
Yalden shot 11 for 14 (3 for 4 from 3-point range) for the Catamounts (5-3). Long added 17 points and eight rebounds.
Happy finished with 22 points for the Tigers (3-6). Princeton also got 20 points from Jackson Hicke. Malik Abdullahi also had 14 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Yalden scored 14 points in the first half to help the Catamounts build a 43-26 halftime lead.
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1st Half
UVM
Catamounts
43
PRIN
Tigers
26
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jackson Skipper vs. CJ Happy (CJ Happy gains possession)
19:44
CJ Happy turnover (lost ball) (TJ Hurley steals)
19:31
Lucas Mari misses three point jump shot
19:29
Sean Blake offensive rebound
19:20
+3
TJ Long makes three point jump shot (Sean Blake assists)
3-0
19:02
Jack Stanton misses three point jump shot
19:00
Catamounts defensive rebound
18:49
Sean Blake offensive foul (CJ Happy draws the foul)
18:49
Sean Blake turnover (offensive foul)
18:34
CJ Happy misses three point jump shot
18:32
Sean Blake defensive rebound
18:18
+2
Gus Yalden makes two point pullup jump shot
5-0
18:04
+2
Malik Abdullahi makes two point pullup jump shot
5-2
17:36
+2
Sean Blake makes two point turnaround jump shot
7-2
17:14
Jackson Hicke misses two point pullup jump shot
17:12
TJ Hurley defensive rebound
17:03
Gus Yalden turnover (3-second violation)
16:54
+3
CJ Happy makes three point jump shot (Landon Clark assists)
7-5
16:40
+3
Gus Yalden makes three point jump shot (Ben Johnson assists)
10-5
16:18
+2
Jackson Hicke makes two point cutting layup (Malik Abdullahi assists)
10-7
16:01
Sean Blake misses two point driving layup
15:59
Malik Abdullahi defensive rebound
15:51
Jack Stanton misses three point jump shot
15:49
Sean Blake defensive rebound
15:43
+3
Ben Johnson makes three point jump shot (TJ Long assists)
13-7
15:42
Tigers 30 second timeout
15:42
TV timeout
15:25
Jackson Hicke misses three point jump shot
15:23
Jacob Huggins offensive rebound
15:22
Ben Johnson personal foul
15:18
Jacob Huggins misses two point turnaround jump shot
15:16
TJ Long defensive rebound
15:05
+3
TJ Long makes three point jump shot (Momo Nkugwa assists)
16-7
14:54
+2
Jacob Huggins makes two point cutting layup (Jackson Hicke assists)
16-9
14:33
+2
Lucas Mari makes two point driving layup
18-9
14:33
Tigers 30 second timeout
14:13
Jacob Hammond misses three point jump shot
14:11
TJ Hurley defensive rebound
14:05
Jacob Hammond blocks Jackson Skipper's two point driving layup
14:03
Jacob Hammond defensive rebound
13:49
Jacob Hammond turnover (traveling)
13:34
TJ Hurley misses two point pullup jump shot
13:32
Jackson Hicke defensive rebound
13:11
Jack Stanton misses three point jump shot
13:09
Ben Michaels defensive rebound
12:56
Jackson Hicke personal foul (TJ Hurley draws the foul)
12:47
+2
TJ Hurley makes two point pullup jump shot
20-9
12:25
Noah Barnett shooting foul (CJ Happy draws the foul)
12:25
CJ Happy misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:25
CJ Happy misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:25
Tigers offensive rebound
12:04
Ben Michaels shooting foul (Malik Abdullahi draws the foul)
12:04
+1
Malik Abdullahi makes regular free throw 1 of 2
20-10
12:04
Malik Abdullahi misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:04
Ben Johnson defensive rebound
11:47
TJ Long misses three point jump shot
11:45
Catamounts offensive rebound
11:43
TV timeout
11:33
+2
Gus Yalden makes two point driving hook shot
22-10
11:19
Gus Yalden blocks Jacob Huggins's two point pullup jump shot
11:17
Tigers offensive rebound
11:10
+3
Jackson Hicke makes three point jump shot (Jacob Huggins assists)
22-13
10:54
TJ Long turnover (lost ball) (Jack Stanton steals)
10:42
Jackson Hicke misses three point jump shot
10:40
Sean Blake defensive rebound
10:31
+2
Gus Yalden makes two point driving layup (Sean Blake assists)
24-13
10:09
Landon Clark misses three point jump shot
10:07
Sean Blake defensive rebound
10:00
+3
Gus Yalden makes three point jump shot (Sean Blake assists)
27-13
9:59
Tigers 30 second timeout
9:35
Sebastian Whitfield turnover (bad pass) (Lucas Mari steals)
9:24
+2
Lucas Mari makes two point driving layup
29-13
8:56
Sebastian Whitfield misses two point pullup jump shot
8:54
Momo Nkugwa defensive rebound
8:43
Momo Nkugwa misses three point jump shot
8:41
Gus Yalden offensive rebound
8:37
Lucas Mari misses three point jump shot
8:35
Tigers defensive rebound
8:21
+2
Malik Abdullahi makes two point driving layup
29-15
8:05
+3
TJ Hurley makes three point jump shot (Lucas Mari assists)
32-15
7:43
Malik Abdullahi misses three point jump shot
7:41
Sean Blake defensive rebound
7:30
TJ Hurley misses three point jump shot
7:28
TJ Hurley offensive rebound
7:25
+2
Momo Nkugwa makes two point driving layup
34-15
7:23
TV timeout
7:08
Jake Sussberg misses three point jump shot
7:06
TJ Hurley defensive rebound
6:45
TJ Hurley misses two point driving layup
6:43
Jacob Huggins defensive rebound
6:22
+3
Jacob Huggins makes three point jump shot (Sebastian Whitfield assists)
34-18
5:59
+2
Noah Barnett makes two point floating jump shot (Sean Blake assists)
36-18
5:29
Landon Clark turnover (bad pass)
5:14
+2
Gus Yalden makes two point fadeaway jump shot
38-18
4:53
Gus Yalden shooting foul (Jacob Huggins draws the foul)
4:53
+1
Jacob Huggins makes regular free throw 1 of 2
38-19
4:53
+1
Jacob Huggins makes regular free throw 2 of 2
38-20
4:40
Gus Yalden misses three point jump shot
4:38
Ben Michaels offensive rebound
4:28
+3
TJ Long makes three point jump shot (Ben Johnson assists)
41-20
4:14
Jacob Huggins misses three point jump shot
4:12
TJ Long defensive rebound
4:00
Jacob Huggins shooting foul
4:00
TV timeout
4:00
+1
Ben Michaels makes regular free throw 1 of 2
42-20
4:00
+1
Ben Michaels makes regular free throw 2 of 2
43-20
3:38
Jack Stanton misses two point pullup jump shot
3:36
Ben Johnson defensive rebound
3:26
Ben Johnson misses three point jump shot
3:24
Jack Stanton defensive rebound
3:13
Ben Michaels personal foul
3:13
+3
Jackson Hicke makes three point jump shot (Landon Clark assists)
43-23
2:49
Ben Johnson misses two point fadeaway jump shot
2:47
Jacob Huggins defensive rebound
2:38
Jack Stanton misses three point jump shot
2:36
Ben Johnson defensive rebound
2:28
Sean Blake misses two point driving layup
2:26
Jack Stanton defensive rebound
2:16
Jackson Hicke misses two point turnaround jump shot
2:14
TJ Long defensive rebound
1:56
Gus Yalden misses two point driving hook shot
1:54
Malik Abdullahi defensive rebound
1:40
Malik Abdullahi misses three point jump shot
1:38
Sean Blake defensive rebound
1:28
Ben Michaels misses two point driving layup
1:26
Landon Clark defensive rebound
1:13
+3
Jackson Hicke makes three point jump shot (Jacob Huggins assists)
43-26
0:59
Catamounts 30 second timeout
0:48
TJ Hurley misses three point jump shot
0:46
Jack Stanton defensive rebound
0:20
Jackson Hicke misses two point driving layup
0:18
Noah Barnett defensive rebound
0:01
Jackson Skipper turnover (bad pass)
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
UVM
Catamounts
36
PRIN
Tigers
48
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:46
Lucas Mari misses three point jump shot
19:44
Malik Abdullahi defensive rebound
19:17
Jackson Hicke misses three point jump shot
19:15
CJ Happy offensive rebound
19:10
+2
CJ Happy makes two point driving layup
43-28
18:49
+2
TJ Hurley makes two point driving layup
45-28
18:49
Jackson Hicke shooting foul (TJ Hurley draws the foul)
18:49
TJ Hurley misses regular free throw 1 of 1
18:49
Jackson Hicke defensive rebound
18:32
+3
CJ Happy makes three point jump shot (Malik Abdullahi assists)
45-31
18:15
+2
Gus Yalden makes two point driving layup
47-31
18:02
+3
Jack Stanton makes three point jump shot (CJ Happy assists)
47-34
17:44
Sean Blake misses three point jump shot
17:42
Gus Yalden offensive rebound
17:38
TJ Long misses three point jump shot
17:36
CJ Happy defensive rebound
17:36
Jackson Hicke misses three point jump shot
17:34
Landon Clark offensive rebound
17:31
Sean Blake personal foul
17:21
+3
CJ Happy makes three point jump shot (Malik Abdullahi assists)
47-37
17:17
Catamounts 30 second timeout
17:17
TV timeout
17:07
Jack Stanton personal foul
16:58
TJ Hurley turnover (CJ Happy steals)
16:42
+3
Jackson Hicke makes three point jump shot (CJ Happy assists)
47-40
16:16
Gus Yalden misses two point driving reverse layup
16:14
Malik Abdullahi defensive rebound
16:01
+3
CJ Happy makes three point jump shot (Jack Stanton assists)
47-43
15:45
TJ Long misses three point jump shot
15:43
Landon Clark defensive rebound
15:43
Gus Yalden personal foul
15:43
TV timeout
15:43
CJ Happy personal foul
15:18
+2
Jackson Hicke makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot
47-45
15:18
Ben Johnson shooting foul (Jackson Hicke draws the foul)
15:18
Jackson Hicke misses regular free throw 1 of 1
15:18
Momo Nkugwa defensive rebound
14:49
Jackson Skipper misses three point jump shot
14:47
Catamounts turnover (shot clock violation)
14:19
+2
CJ Happy makes two point driving layup
47-47
13:58
+2
Jackson Skipper makes two point cutting finger roll layup (Ben Michaels assists)
49-47
13:58
Landon Clark shooting foul (Jackson Skipper draws the foul)
13:58
+1
Jackson Skipper makes regular free throw 1 of 1
50-47
13:35
Ben Michaels personal foul
13:05
+3
Jack Stanton makes three point jump shot (Malik Abdullahi assists)
50-50
13:04
Ben Michaels misses three point jump shot
13:03
Noah Barnett offensive rebound
13:03
CJ Happy personal foul
12:27
Noah Barnett misses two point driving hook shot
12:25
CJ Happy defensive rebound
12:14
CJ Happy misses three point jump shot
12:12
Momo Nkugwa defensive rebound
11:58
Ben Johnson misses three point jump shot
11:56
Momo Nkugwa offensive rebound
11:48
+2
Momo Nkugwa makes two point putback layup
52-50
11:42
+2
Malik Abdullahi makes two point driving layup
52-52
11:29
+2
Jackson Skipper makes two point stepback jump shot
54-52
11:07
+2
Malik Abdullahi makes two point driving layup
54-54
10:53
Ben Michaels turnover (lost ball) (Jackson Hicke steals)
10:31
+2
Malik Abdullahi makes two point pullup jump shot
54-56
10:14
Jackson Skipper misses three point jump shot
10:12
Noah Barnett offensive rebound
10:09
Jump ball. Noah Barnett vs. Landon Clark (Landon Clark gains possession)
10:09
Noah Barnett turnover (lost ball) (Landon Clark steals)
10:09
TV timeout
9:44
Jack Stanton turnover (traveling)
9:31
Jacob Huggins shooting foul (Gus Yalden draws the foul)
9:31
+1
Gus Yalden makes regular free throw 1 of 2
55-56
9:31
+1
Gus Yalden makes regular free throw 2 of 2
56-56
9:17
Jackson Hicke misses two point floating jump shot
9:15
Catamounts defensive rebound
9:00
+2
Gus Yalden makes two point driving layup
58-56
8:42
+3
Sebastian Whitfield makes three point jump shot (Landon Clark assists)
58-59
8:24
+2
Sean Blake makes two point floating jump shot (TJ Hurley assists)
60-59
8:24
CJ Happy shooting foul (Sean Blake draws the foul)
8:24
Sean Blake misses regular free throw 1 of 1
8:24
Landon Clark defensive rebound
7:56
+2
CJ Happy makes two point driving layup (Jack Stanton assists)
60-61
7:56
Gus Yalden shooting foul (CJ Happy draws the foul)
7:56
TV timeout
7:56
CJ Happy misses regular free throw 1 of 1
7:56
Malik Abdullahi offensive rebound
7:42
+2
Jackson Hicke makes two point driving layup (CJ Happy assists)
60-63
7:26
+2
TJ Long makes two point driving layup
62-63
7:26
Jack Stanton shooting foul (TJ Long draws the foul)
7:26
+1
TJ Long makes regular free throw 1 of 1
63-63
7:08
+2
CJ Happy makes two point driving layup
63-65
6:39
TJ Long misses three point jump shot
6:37
Tigers defensive rebound
6:18
+2
Jackson Hicke makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot
63-67
5:53
TJ Hurley misses two point pullup jump shot
5:51
Malik Abdullahi defensive rebound
5:41
CJ Happy misses two point pullup jump shot
5:39
TJ Long defensive rebound
5:30
+2
TJ Long makes two point pullup jump shot
65-67
4:57
+2
Jack Stanton makes two point pullup jump shot
65-69
4:44
TJ Long misses two point driving layup
4:42
Jackson Hicke defensive rebound
4:14
Jackson Hicke misses two point fadeaway jump shot
4:12
TJ Long defensive rebound
4:03
+2
TJ Long makes two point driving layup
67-69
3:59
Catamounts 30 second timeout
3:59
TV timeout
3:40
Sean Blake personal foul (Malik Abdullahi draws the foul)
3:40
+1
Malik Abdullahi makes regular free throw 1 of 2
67-70
3:40
Malik Abdullahi misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:40
TJ Long defensive rebound
3:24
+2
Gus Yalden makes two point driving layup
69-70
3:01
Sean Blake personal foul (Jackson Hicke draws the foul)
3:01
Jackson Hicke misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:01
Momo Nkugwa defensive rebound
2:47
Malik Abdullahi personal foul (Gus Yalden draws the foul)
2:47
Gus Yalden misses regular free throw 1 of 1
2:47
Jackson Hicke defensive rebound
2:27
+2
Malik Abdullahi makes two point driving layup
69-72
2:17
Malik Abdullahi personal foul (Sean Blake draws the foul)
2:17
+1
Sean Blake makes regular free throw 1 of 2
70-72
2:17
+1
Sean Blake makes regular free throw 2 of 2
71-72
1:52
+2
CJ Happy makes two point driving layup
71-74
1:52
Momo Nkugwa shooting foul (CJ Happy draws the foul)
1:52
CJ Happy misses regular free throw 1 of 1
1:52
Gus Yalden defensive rebound
1:39
+3
Gus Yalden makes three point jump shot (TJ Long assists)
74-74
1:16
Jack Stanton misses three point jump shot
1:14
TJ Long defensive rebound
0:55
+2
Gus Yalden makes two point driving layup
76-74
0:48
Tigers 30 second timeout
0:35
Jackson Hicke misses three point jump shot
0:33
Noah Barnett defensive rebound
0:27
Jackson Hicke personal foul (TJ Long draws the foul)
0:27
TJ Long misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:27
+1
TJ Long makes regular free throw 2 of 2
77-74
0:19
Jack Stanton misses three point jump shot
0:17
Landon Clark offensive rebound
0:09
Jack Stanton misses three point jump shot
0:07
TJ Long defensive rebound
0:01
+2
Noah Barnett makes two point driving dunk (Lucas Mari assists)
