Lyndonville, VT - After trailing by 18 points late in the first half the Northern Vermont University-Lyndon men's basketball team rallied for a 94-40 victory over New England College on Thursday evening.  The win was Lyndon's first over NEC since the 2016-2017 season and raised the Hornets' record to 2-3 on the season.  the Pilgrims are winless in three starts.

The teams battled on even terms in the early going.  When Kenan Hajdarevic (St. Johnsbury, VT) found Tyrese Harris (Wiesbaden, Germany) open for a three-pointer, the Hornets had a 12-8 advantage just over four minutes in.  The Pilgrims responded with a 14-0 run capped by a Jamal Allen transition layup to take a 22-12 lead.

Lyndon would eventually trim the NEC lead to 25-19.  At that point the Pilgrims ramped up their defense, holding the Hornets scoreless for over six minutes.  When Allen connected on a deep three-pointer, NEC had command with a 37-19 lead and 5:49 to go in the half.  The Hornets would climb to within 11, but Devon Okowuga converted a Hornet turnover into a dunk to send the Pilgrims into halftime with a 47-34 lead.

NEC was able to maintian a comfortable margin in the early going of the second half, but Lyndon slowly began chipping away.  The Hornets' Mondwell Bukle (Wiesbaden, Germany) connected on a three-pointer with just over ten minutes to go and Lyndon was suddenly within one point at 72-71.

The Pilgrims responded by scoring the next seven points on a Stephen Fama layup, a three from Okowuga, and a pair of Fama free throws to build the lead back to eight at 79-71 with 7:34 to go.  After the two teams traded baskets, Calvin Cheek converted a Kareem Octavian steal for a layup to put NEC back up by ten.

Again Lyndon chipped away, and when Harris scored, was fouled, and converted the free throw, the Hornets were within three points at 77-84 with 2:52 to go.  After Okowuga converted one of two free throws, Zach Falkenburg (Bridgeport, NY) drained a three pointer to bring Lyndon within one.  Falkenburg came up with a steal on NEC's next possession and Olsen was quickly fouled.  He went to the line and converted both free throws to give the Hornets their first lead since the opening minutes of the game.

Lyndon forced another NEC turnover on the next possession, and Antonio Carlisle (St. Johnsbury, VT) made both free throws to put the Hornets up by three with 1:41 to go.  The Hornets then got three consecutive defensive stops, but each time turned the ball over on the following possession.  Octavien;s layup off of the third turnover brought the Pilgrims to within one at 91-90 with 38 seconds remaining.

The Hornets again turned the ball over, but were able to get another huge defensive stop, and Harris was fouled with 11 seconds to go.  He made one of two free throws to put Lyndon up by two, then Fama drew a Hornet foul driving to the basket with nine seconds remaining.  He missed both free throws, then Harris was fouled and converted both free throws to seal the win.

Olsen topped five double figure scorers for Lyndon, finishing with 24 points and a team best nine rebounds.  Harris finished with 17, including eight of nine from the foul line, while Falkenburg and Bukle chippd in with 11 points apiece.  Carlisle also reached double figures with ten points and Luke Fredsell (Whitesboro, NY) handed out a team best six assists.

Octavian led NEC with 24 points and Fama recorded a double double with 23 points and 11 rebounds.  Allen added 19 and Cheek scored ten points and recorded eight steals.

The two teams will run it back in two days in Henniker, NH.  Tip-off in NEC's Bridges Gymnasium will be 1:00 pm on Saturday.