Northfield, VT - The Northern Vermont University-Lyndon men's basketball team erupted for 60 second half points and turned a two-point halftime deficit into a 99-83 victory at Norwich University on Saturday afternoon. With the win the Hornets improve to 4-5 on the season while the Cadets remain winless in three starts.
Norwich jumped out to an early lead, ignited by a steal and breakaway dunk from Donovan Lewis Jr. on the game's first possession. Peyton Olsen (Middleburgh, NY) brought the Hornets even at 6-6 with a putback basket, but the hosts responded with a 10-2 run to go up by 8, 16-8m just over five minutes into the game.
A Luke Fredsell (Whitesboro, NY) three-pointer broke the Norwich run and the Hornets began to climb back. After a seal and basket from Olsen, Lyndon puld even at 18-18 with 11:47 to go in the half. On the following possession Aiden Trapani's (Deltona, FL) long outlet pass to Olsen for a layup to give the Hornets their first lead of the game.
After the two teams traded baskets the Cadets' Jesse Davis connected from behind the three-point arc to put Norwich back in front by one. After Lewis converted a pair of free throws, Trapani connected from long range to tie the game at 25-25. Norwich scored the next eight points, however, and the Hornets found themselves down by eight, 33-25, with 6:42 remaining in the half.
Lyndon then went on an 8-0 run to tie things, feturing a pair of Olsen threes. Tyrese Harris (Wiesbaden, Germany) hit one of two free throws to put the Hornets back in front, but Davis hit from three-point range at the halftime buzzer to send the teams to intermission with the Cadets holding a 41-39 advantage.
Norwich was able to maintain a slim lead in the opening minutes of the second half, until Trapani found Harris for a layup to put Lyndon in front, 50-49. The Hornets were able to gradually extend their lead, and when Zach Falkenburg (Bridgeport, NY) scored off of a feed from Harris, the Hornets were up by double figures, 68-58, with 11:15 to go.
This time it was the Cadets' turn to chip away. When Tayjuan McKenzie knocked down a jump shot the Lyndon lead was down to three, 75-72, with 5:47 to go.
On Lyndon's next possession Fredsell found Olsen for a layup and a foul, and Olsen finished the three-point play. After a defensive stop, Fredesll and Olsen connected again for another basket and foul, as the Hornets pushed the lead to 81-72 with 4:52 to go. Norwich wasn't able to get any closer the rest of the way, as the Hornets cruised to the victory.
Olsen led the Hornet attack with 30 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Falkenburg posted a very efficient double double, finishing with 26 points on 9 of 11 shooting and pulling down a team best 11 rebounds. Fredsell and Harris also reached double figures, scoring 13 and 12 points respectively.
Lewis paced the Cadets with 30 points on 13 of 18 shooting. Davis added 12, and Caleb Casinas posted a double double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The Hornet victory was Lyndon Head Coach David Pasiak's 300th as a collegiate head coach. He is in his fourth year guiding the Hornets, after previous head coaching stops at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, NY, and Herkimer County Community College in Herkimer, NY. He is Onondaga's all-time wins leader, having guided that program to 264 wins in 15+ seasons.
The same two teams will play again tomorrow (Sunday) in Lyndonville. Tip-off is set for 2:00 pm in Stannard Gymnasium.
