Presque Isle, ME - For the second straight day the Northern Vermont University-Lyndon men's basketball team battled back from a double digit deficit against the University of Maine at Presque Isle.  And for the second straight day the Hornets came up just short in the final moments, as the Owls escaped with a 98-97 North Atlantic Conference victory.  UMPI improves to 8-12 overall and 3-7 in NAC play while Lyndon falls to 4-16 on the season and 1-8 in conference.

Saturday's first half was tightly contested throughout.  After UMPI led for much of the early going, Luke Fredsell's (Whitesboro, NY) layup gave the Hornets a 26-25 lead at the 9:29 mark of the half.  The Hornets maintained a slim lead until the Owls' Will Griffith converted a putback to make it 37-36 UMPI with 5:24 remaining before the break.  Still leading by one, Griffin Guerrette converted a layup and Tevon Hines drained a long three-pointer to extend the Owl lead to six, and the hosts took a 52-46 lead into halftime.

Both teams cooled off momentarily at the start of the second half, as Lyndon made five consecutive defensive stops but was only able to produce a Peyton Olsen (Middleburgh, NY) layup that cut the margin to four.  After Zach Falkenburg's (Bridgeport, NY) three-pointer cut the UMPI lead to 57-54 at the 16:05 mark, the Owls went on a 19-4 run over the next five plus minutes, capped by a Hines three that made it 76-58 with 11:04 to go.

At that point the Hornets began to rally.  Following a Kyle Cary (Selkirk, NY) free throw, Damon Denteh (Jamaica, NY) converted a layup, then knocked down a three in transition to cut the Owl lead to 12.  Two Cary free throws at the 8:26 mark brought Lyndon within ten at 81-71.

UMPI's Chris Brown converted a three-pointer to put the Owls ahead 94-81 with 4:03 to go, but Lyndon went on an 8-0 run, capped by two Olsen free throws, to make it 94-89 with 2:40 remaining.  A DeAndre Duncombe jumper pushed the lead back to seven, but Cary converted a putback inside and was fouled.  After he made the free throw the Hornets were within four.

Lynndon forced a turnover on UMPI's next posession, and Denteh's driving layup made it a two-point game.  After another defensive stop, Denteh knocked down a three-pointer to give the Hornets the lead, 97-97, wiht 1:15 to go.  UMPI regained the lead the next time down the floor on a Griffith putback basket, then Lyndon turned the ball over.  The Hornets got the defensive stop they needed, but Falkenburg's running layup in transition for the potential game winner was off the mark.  Olsen was tied up on the rebound, and the Hornets had the possession arrow, giving them one last chance.  Cary's foul line jumper as time expired came up short, as UMPI hjeld on for the win.

Hines led the Owls with 24 points, 17 coming in the second half.  He also finished with seven rebounds and six assists.  Shyquinn Dix added 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assists and Brown came off the bench to score 17 points.

Falkenburg led Lyndon with 24 points and four assists.  Denteh finished with 22 points and Cary posted a double double wih 19 points and 13 rebounds.  Hoar also reached double figures with 15 points.

The Hornets will return home to take on Husson University Friday evening at 7:30 pm.