Utica, NY – Northern Vermont University-Lyndon senior Zach Falkenburg (Bridgeport, NY) scored his 1,000th career point on the way to a career high 41 point night. However the Hornets came up just short in Friday's North Atlantic Conference men's basketball game, as host SUNY Polytechnic Institute came away with a 108-98 overtime victory. The Wildcats, leaders in the NAC West Division, improve to 9-4 overall and 4-0 in conference play. The Hornets fall to 2-9 on the season and 0-2 in conference.
The game was tightly contested throughout and featured 15 ties and 14 lead changes. The Hornets took their biggest lead of the game at 80-76 following Luke Fredsell's (Whitesboro, NY) layup with 4:21 to go. Poly's Jesse O'Dell and Alan Rodriguez responded with two free throws apiece to tie things.
The two teams stayed within one possession of each other as regulation came to a close. Poly's Josh Gregory put back his own miss to give the hosts an 89-87 lead with 39 seconds to go. After the Hornets misfired on their next trip, O'Dell was fouled and made one of two free throws. Falkenburg then drained a three to tie the game at 90 and Poly came up empty on their final trip, sending the game into overtime.
Rodriguez would convert a driving layup on the first possession of the extra session to put the Wildcats in front. Lyndon regained the lead on a three-pointer from Aiden Trapani (Deltona, FL) and extended the lead to three after Tyrese Harris (Fort Benning, GA) grabbed a defensive rebound and went coast to coast. Poly would respond with a 13-0 run to take command and earn the win, as Lyndon would come up empty on five straight possessions.
Fredsell supported Falkenburg's career high with a career high of his own, finishing with 27 points on 10 of 15 shooting, including 4 of 8 from behind the three-point arc. Falkenburg connected on 14 of 25 shots and 10 of 12 free throws. Jaden Phillips Tempe, AZ) also reached double figures with 10 points.
O'Dell paced Poly with 36 points and a game high 17 rebounds. Gregory also posted a double double with 31 points and 16 rebounds. Rodriguez finished with 13 points.
The Hornets converted 33 of 68 shots (48.5%), including 9 of 27 (33.3%) from behind the three-point arc. The Wildcats made 39 of 84 shots (46.4%) and only one of 11 from long range. The difference in the game coiuld be found on the boards, where Poly held a 57-37 advantage and collected 22 offensive rebounds.
Falkenburg entered the game with 990 career points, He reached the 1,000 mark with a pair of free throws with 8:30 to go in the first half.
The Hornets continue their Upstate New York swing on Saturday when they play at Cazenovia College at 1:00 pm.
