BURLINGTON, Vt. — The Stony Brook men's basketball team has been running through a gauntlet of late, consecutively facing the top three teams in America East in a three-weekend span.

Unfortunately for the Seawolves, the stretch has proved challenging.

Host Vermont defeated Stony Brook, 86-78, on Saturday afternoon.

The Seawolves have lost three straight and four of five while consecutively facing Hartford, UMBC and now Vermont to drop to 8-11 overall and 6-7 in America East play.

After Vermont led by as many as a dozen points, the Seawolves closed to within 53-50 on a three-point play on a dunk from Mouhamadou Gueye with 9 minutes, 19 seconds remaining in the game.

Stony Brook had raced to an early 8-3 lead on a jumper from Jaden Sayles with 15:49 remaining in the first half. However, the Catamounts answered with a 12-0 run and led the rest of the way.

Sayles (team-high 16 points), Gueye, Juan Felix Rodriguez, Omar Habwe and Frankie Policelli all scored in double-figures for Stony Brook.

"There were a lot of positives," coach Geno Ford said. "The disappointing thing is we were struck by several dagger threes that they made."

Vermont, returning from a COVID pause, had last played Jan. 17.

The teams meet again Sunday at noon in Burlington.