Green Bay, WI -- (Sports Network) - Maurice Joseph scored 23 points off the bench to lead the Vermont Catamounts to a 76-72 victory over the Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix in the opening round of the College Basketball Invitational at the Resch Center.

Marqus Blakely added a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds for Vermont (24-8), while Mike Trimboli tallied 17 points.

Troy Cotton netted 17 points for Green Bay (22-11), while Rahmon Fletcher posted a double-double of 16 points and 10 assists. Mike Schachtner chipped in 14 points in the losing effort.

The Catamounts shot 53.1 percent from the floor in the first half and went into the break with a 42-34 advantage.

Despite shooting a mediocre 40.6 percent from the field in the second stanza, Vermont was able to hold on for the four-point win.

Vermont's bench scored 31 points in the contest, while UW-Green Bay's reserves posted just nine points.

The Catamounts will not take on the Oregon State Beavers in the second round of the College Basketball Invitational.