WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Ethan O'Day scored 24 points on 10-for-13 shooting with 10 rebounds as Vermont pulled away from Hartford to win 83-68 on Saturday.

Cam Ward hit a 3 with 5:43 to cap a 21-8 run and push Vermont's lead to 77-60.

Vermont (10-8, 2-1 American East) raced to a 28-11 lead when Everett Duncan hit back-to-back 3s with 11 minutes to play before halftime. But the Hawks proceeded to outscore Vermont 31-11 and took a 42-39 lead to intermission.

The lead was short lived as Ward came out of the break to hit a 3 to tie it, and Nate Rohrer's layup gave the Catamounts the lead for good.

Pancake Thomas led Hartford (6-12, 1-2) with 29 points on 10-for-21 shooting from the field. He was 4 for 8 from 3-point range and 5 for 8 from the free-throw line.

The Catamounts held a 40-23 rebounding edge.