LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – Lyndon was able to get back into the win column on Saturday afternoon with a 51- 48 North Atlantic Conference Victory over Maine-Maritime Academy.

George Carle (Central Falls, R.I.) led the Lyndon attack with 13 points while Tyler Gilson led the Mariners offense with 14 points. The Hornets shot just 33 percent from the field, while the Mariners shot 34.7 percent.

Both teams got off to a slow start as the first three and a half minutes saw neither team score a single basket. Gilson was able to break the scoreless tie with a 10-foot jump shot, 3:20 into the game.

"We were playing good offense," said Lyndon Head Coach Chris Dorsey. "The shots just didn't fall and that happens sometimes."

A back and forth first half saw Lyndon head to the locker rooms with a 19-17 lead. Coming out for halftime, Nick Holt hit a three pointer to put Maritime up 20-19. The Hornets then went on an 11-2 run in a span of 1:47 early in the second half.  

"We started to pick up full court pressure," said Dorsey. "The defensive intensity slowed them down on offense. We let our defense lead into our offense which is why we went on that run."

Lyndon's lead grew to 12 with about 15:00 minutes left to play and that's when the Mariners would fight their way back into the game. Dylan Stevens would score six points in a span of just under two minutes. A jump shot from Tyler Thayer with 4:38 remaining would tie the game at 45, erasing Lyndon's lead.

"Our shooting performance just wasn't there tonight," said Dorsey. "Hopefully we don't have a shooting performance like that again, besides the shooting we played very well."

David Johnson (Washington, D.C.) would take over as he scored four straight points to put his team up 49-45 with 2:46 remaining. Maine Maritime's Dylan Price made one of two free throws to get his team within three. Holt would knock down two free throws of his own with exactly one minute remaining, pulling the Mariners within one.

"I have a lot of confidence in David (Johnson)," said Dorsey. "And I know down the stretch he excels, so I want to get the ball in his hands because I know something good will happen."

A controversial call with about ten seconds remaining would give Lyndon possession, and Carle would finish the job with a last second layup, pushing his team to the 51-48 victory.

Rontrez Purcell (Washington, D.C.) added 11 points, eight rebounds, one assists and three blocked shots for the winners, Johnson handed out three assists and Avery King (Pawtucket, R.I.) collected four steals.

Thayer had 10 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steals in the loss while Holt had three assists and three steals.
 
Lyndon moves to 8-8 in NAC play and 9-14 overall, while Maine-Maritime drops to 2-14 in NAC action and 3-20 overall. Lyndon's final home contest will take place Thursday, against Colby-Sawyer College. That game gets underway at 5:30 p.m.

By MATT DREW, Sports Information Assistant