Presque Isle, ME - The Northern Vermont University-Lyndon men's basketball team rallied from a 23-point deficit to forge a tie with the University of Maine at Presque Isle with just over 11 minutes to go in Friday's North Atlantic Conference contest.  Unfortunatley for the Hornets, they were unable to get over the hump, as the Owls held them off for a 86-80 win.  UMPI improves to 7-12 on the season and 2-7 in NAC play, while Lyndon falls to 4-15 overall and 1-7 in conference.

UMPI jumped on the Hornets at the onset, running out to a 13-0 advantage less than three minutes into the contest.  The Owl advantage would grow to 28-5 following a Parker Onorato layup with 13:50 left in the opening half.  The Hornets then began to settle down and chip into the lead.  A three-pointer from Damon Denteh (Jamaica, NY) brought Lyndon to within 32-17 at the 8:57 mark.  The two teams played on relatively even terms the rest of the half, with the Owls taking a 46-29 lead into the break.

Lyndon came out strong to start the second half.  The Hornets scored the first seven poionts, with Denteh finding Zach Falkenburg (Bridgeport, NY) for a layup to make it 46-36.  Following a free throw from the Owls' Tevon Hines, a Falkenburg jumper pulled the Hornets within single digits for the first time since the opening minutes.  Lyndon continued to chip away, and when Peyton Olsen (Middleburgh, NY) scored on a driving layup, the game was tied at 54-54 with 11:17 to go.

UMPI scored the next five points, three coming from Chris Brown, but Denteh answered with a three, then Luke Fredsell converted a free throw to pull within one before the Hornets were called for a lane violation on Fredsell's second shot.  Shyquinn Dix hit a pull up jumper to put the Owls up three, but Timothy Hoar (Shelburne Falls, MA) then drained a three to tie the game at 63-63.  Griffin Guerrette's three gave UMPI back the lead, and Dix followed with a pair of free throws, but a basket and free throw from Hoar made it a two-point game.

The Owls eventually extended their lead back to nine following a Hines free throw with 2:50 to go.  The Hornets were not done, however, as a three from Hoar and an Olsen layup made it a 77-73 game with 1:46 to go.  With UMPI leading by six, Denteh drained a three to make it an 83-80 game with 30 seconds left.  The Owls would make three of four free throws in the final seconds to hold on for the win.

Dix led the Owls with a game high 22 points and six rebounds.  DeAndre Duncombe tallied 18 points and Guerrette added 17.  Hines finished with 14 and handed out five assists.

Denteh paced the Hornets with 19 points, six rebounds, and three assists.  Olsen chipped in 16 with Hoar adding 13.  Falkenburg and Kyle Cary (Selkirk, NY) scored 12 points apiece.

The Hornets and Owls turn around and play Saturday afternoon.  Tip-off is 3:00 pm, also at UMPI.