Potsdam, NY - Sunday's men's college basketball game between Northern Vermont University-Lyndon and Clarkson University was a back and forth affair that saw 30 lead changes, 26 ties, and neither team able to build a lead of more than seven points. Unfortunately for the Hornets, it was the host Golden Knights that put together the game's final run, escaping with an 84-79 victory. Clarkson captured their first win in eight starts, while Lyndon fell to 2-8 on the season.
The Hornets built their biggest lead of the game, 69-62, following an Aiden Trapani (Deltona, FL) layup with 7:10 to go. Just when it looked like Lyndon would have some breathing room, Clarkson answered by scoring the next seven points, tying the game on a Joe Lucas layup at the 4:48 mark. Zach Falkenburg's (Bridgeport, NY) three-pointer on Lyndon's next possession put the Hornets back in front by three.
After Clarkson's Dante Joefield converted two free throws, Lyndon's Tyrese Harris (Fort Benning, GA) scored on a driving layup to keep the margin at three. Lyndon forced a miss on Clarkson's next possession, but the Knights' Ryan Miles-Ferguson collected the offensive rebound and kicked it out to Lucas, who drained a three to tie things.
After the Hornets turned the ball over, Joefield's pull up jumper gave the lead back to Clarkson. Lyndon's Luke Fredsell (Whitesboro, NY) answered with a three-pointer to make it 77-76, Lyndon, with 2:22 to go. After a defensive stop, Falkenburg was fouled and made both free throws to put the Hornets back in front by three.
The Hornets again came up with the initial stop on Clarkson's next possession, but another offensive rebound and kickout three by Lucas tied the game at 79. After a pair of empty trips, the Hornets found themselves with the ball and a chance to take the lead with 47 seconds to go. However a Hornet turnover led to a transition opportunity for Clarkson, and Blake Gearhart's rebound basket put the Knights in front.
Mondwell Bukle (Pyeongtaek, South Korea) drew a foul with 18 seconds to go and went to the line with a chance to tie the game with a one and one. However his free throw bounced out. The Hornets then fouled Clarkson's Chris Hulbert, who made one of two free throws to make it a three point game. The Hornets were unable to convert a three on their next possession, and two more Hulbert free throws sealed the win for Clarkson.
The difference in Sunday's game was Clarkson's dominance on the offensive glass. The Knights collected 26 offensive rebounds, including 18 in the second half, accounting for 25 second chance points. Meanwhile the Hornets only garnered six offensive rebounds, resulting in seven points. Clarkson also scored 20 points off of 12 Hornet turnovers while Lyndon scored 11 points off of 10 Clarkson turnovers.
Hulbert led Clarkson with a game high 24 points. Gearhart added 18 points while Joefield and Miles-Ferguson both posted double doubles, with each scoring 10 points, Joefield collecting 13 rebounds, and Miles-Ferguson grabbing 12 rebounds. Lucas was the fifth double figure scorer for Clarkson with 11 points.
Fredsell matched his career high with 19 points on five of seven shooting from behind the three-point arc and dished out five assists to lead Lyndon. Trapani and Falkenburg chipped in with 14 points apiece and Antonio Carlisle (St. Johnsbury, VT) added 12 points.
The Hornets are off until January 4th, when they will host SUNY Canton in a non-conference matchup. Tip-of is scheduled for 3:00 pm.
