An appreciation of Ernie Duncan: The 10 best games of his UVM basketball career

With 131 games and counting to his credit, Ernie Duncan's career as a member of the University of Vermont men's basketball team is winding down. 

Duncan, along with transfer Samuel Dingba, will be honored on senior night Tuesday at Patrick Gym. The regular-season finale vs. UMass-Lowell tips off at 7 p.m.

More:Samuel Dingba: Generosity shapes UVM basketball player from Cameroon

But before Duncan, the program's all-time leader in career 3-point percentage, moves on — No. 1 Vermont (23-6, 13-2) eyes another NCAA tournament bid when the America East playoffs commence this weekend  — here's my subjective take on the Evansville, Indiana, native's best games so far as a Catamount.

The list of games (in descending order):

(Note: I reserve the right to update this in the coming weeks)*

Feb. 23, 2019 at Binghamton

The stat line: 22 points on 7 off 11 shooting (5 of 7 on 3s), zero turnovers in 33 minutes.

Highlight: Duncan, after scoring 13 first-half points, delivered his fifth and final trey for a 67-63 advantage with 3:59 to play. UVM never looked back, improving to 6-0 following a loss on the season.

Feb. 9, 2019 vs. Albany

The stat line: 16 points on 5 of 8 shooting (4 of 7 on 3s), four assists, two seals in 30 minutes.

Highlight: Pouring in a trio of 3-pointers in a five-possession span of the second half, Duncan's bombs were part of a 22-3 run that sent Vermont to the 67-49 win over Albany for the regular-season sweep of its rival. 

Feb. 6, 2019 vs. Maine

The stat line: 26 points on 7 of 8 shooting (6 of 7 on 3s), two assists, zero turnovers in 30 minutes.

Highlight: Coming off a 1 of 7 effort beyond the arc at Lowell, Duncan caught fire in the first half here, going 6-for-7 on triples to rack up 21 points in the opening 20 minutes of what turned into an 86-63 rout of the Black Bears. "For myself, after probably two 3s, I felt like I could've shot 14 and probably made 13 of them," said Duncan after the game, crediting his teammates.

Jan. 26, 2019 at Stony Brook

The stat line: 25 points on 7 of 14 shooting (9-for-10 at foul line), five rebounds, three assists in 35 minutes.

Highlight: With star Anthony Lamb sidelined for a second straight game and the Catamounts three nights removed from a humbling home defeat to UMBC, Duncan ignited a 22-4 run in the first half with six points to erase an early eight-point hole in a 72-53 win on Long Island.  "I think Ernie really had that look in his eye. He really led us and was vocal," UVM coach John Becker said afterward.

Nov. 30, 2018 at Towson

The stat line: 28 points on 7 of 11 shooting (6 of 9 on 3s, 8-for-8 at foul line), three assists in 31 minutes.

Highlight: In what is his season-high at the moment, Duncan knocked down his sixth trey of the game in the corner in front of the UVM bench, extending his team's advantage to double digits with 5 minutes to play in a 70-64 victory. "Absolutely he carried us ... and that's what you need from your senior captain," Becker said.

Jan. 4, 2018 at UMass-Lowell

The stat line: 32 points on 10 of 11 shooting (5 of 6 on 3s, 7-for-7 at foul line) in 33 minutes

Highlight: Nailing a buzzer-beater to close the first half was just a glimpse of Duncan's long-range mastery on this night. Duncan racked up 20 points out of the break to soar to to a 32-point outing, one short of his career high. “That was as good as an offensive game as I’ve seen him play,” Becker said in the post-game of an 88-77 victory.

Nov. 29, 2017 at Richmond

The stat line: 21 points on 7 of 11 shooting ( 5 of 8 on 3s), five rebounds, four assists, zero turnovers in 33 minutes 

Highlight: After ending UVM's scoring drought of nearly five minutes with his fifth triple, Duncan drove for a left-handed layup just before the shot clock expired to put the Cats up by four with 1:58 to play in a 71-65 victory. It was UVM's first true road win over an Atlantic 10 team in over 40 years.

Nov. 26, 2016 vs. Yale

The stat line: Nine points on 4 of 8 shooting, six rebounds, three assists in 32 minutes

Highlight: This 67-65 UVM victory cracks the top 10 for Duncan based on one shot: The game-winner. After UVM squandered a double-digit margin in the second half and with the contest all even, Duncan coolly drove to his right and touched a high shot off the glass with 1 second to go. Afterward, Duncan claimed it was his first game-winner at any level.

Nov. 22, 2016 vs. Hofstra

The stat line: 33 points on 10 of 16 shooting (7 of 10 on 3s, 6-for-6 at line), five rebounds, three assists, two steals in 33 minutes.

Highlight: In the semifinals of the Gulf Coast Showcase in Florida, Duncan went off for a career-best performance. His seven 3s and 33 points still remain career highs, and in this one he caught fire from the get-go, netting five triples in a first half that saw UVM put up 49 points in an 87-73 triumph. "Once he gets going, he is fun to watch," Becker said at the time.

Feb. 27, 2016 at Stony Brook

The stat line:  23 points on 8 of 12 shooting (4 of 4 on 3s, six rebounds, three assists in 34 minutes.

Highlight: Yet another high-scoring performance on Long Island, Duncan struck for 16 of his game-high 23 points in the first half as the Catamounts close out regular season with an impressive road win over Stony Brook.

Contact Alex Abrami at 660-1848 or aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @aabrami5.