Potsdam, NY - In a game that featured 19 lead changes and eight ties, Northern Vermont University-Lyndon scored the final 16 points and came away with a 94-81 victory over SUNY Potsdam in men's college basketball on Saturday afternoon. The Hornets improve to 2-7 on the campaign while the Bears fall to 4-4.
After Potsdam's Tyrese Baptiste converted an old fashioned three-point play on the game's first possession, Lyndon's Zach Falkenburg (Bridgeport, NY) answered with a three from behind the arc. Parker Kelly's three gave the Bears the lead back and Potsdam gradually extended their advantage over the first ten minutes. A Kelly free throw made it 19-12, Potsdam, at the 10:47 mark in what would turn out to be Potsdam's biggest lead.
After Brett Roy (Newport, VT) scored on a feed from Falkenburg, back to back three-pointers from Mondwell Bukle (Pyeongtaek, South Korea) gave the Hornets their first lead at 20-19 with 8:57 to go before halftime. After Potsdam's Brian Pod answered with a three-pointer, two more Bukle threes gave the Hornets a four point advantage. Lyndon would lead by as much as five before Potsdam would close the first half on a 13-4 run to take a 46-42 lead into intermission.
Falkenburg knocked down a three on Lyndon's first possession of the second half, then Tyrese Harris (Fort Benning, GA) came up with a steal and found Aiden Trapani (Deltona, FL) for a layup to put Lyndon back in front. The Hornets were able to maintain a slim lead over the next several minutes, until Potsdam's Mesean Johnaon put the Bears back in front with a layup and free throw at the 14:53 mark.
The two teams exchanged the lead several times over the next several minutes, with neither able to gain more than a four point advantage. A Falkenburg three made it 78-74, Hornets, with 4:53 to go. Parker then pulled the Bears back within two before a three-pointer from Isaac Oduro Jr. put Potsdam back in front, 79-78, with 4:03 remaining. Baptiste's putback on the next Potsdam possession would make it a three-point game at the 3:16 mark, but that would turn out to be the final Potsdam points of the afternoon.
Falkenburg's three-pointer tied things at 81-81 with 2:50 left. Then after a defensive stop, another Falkenburg three gave Lyndon back the lead. Bukle's three ball with 1:23 to go made it a six point game, then the Hornets made seven of eight free throws in the final minute to put away the victory.
Falkenburg finished with a career high 35 points to lead Lyndon. He made 12 of the 19 shots tht he attempted, including eight of 12 from behind the three-point arc. Bukle also posted a career high with 20 points. He made seven of 11 attempts, including six of eight from distance. Jaden Phillips (Tempe, AZ) pulled down nine rebounds and Antonio Carlisle (St. Johnsbury, VT) handed out six assists.
Baptiste led the Bears with 26 points and a game high 19 rebounds. Johnson finished with 17 points while Kelly and Oduro Jr. chipped in 13 and 11 points respectively.
The Hornets made 33 of 67 shots (49.3%), including 18 of 35 (51.4%) from behind the three-point arc. Potsdam converted on 29 of 63 attempts (46.0%), but only seven of 24 (29.2%) from long range. The Bears held a 39-35 rebounding advantage.
Lyndon closes out the first semester on Sunday afternoon when they play at Clarkson University. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:00 noon.
