Daytona Beach, FL - Northern Vermont University-Lyndon competed effectively with Illinois College for stretches of Saturday's men's basketball game, but in the end the Blueboys pulled away for a 97-57 victory at the Mauro Panaggio Tournament.  Illinois College picked up their tenth straight win to improve to 11-1 on the season.  Lyndon fell to 2-7.

IC jumped out to an early 9-2 lead less than three minutes into the game.  After the Hornets got back within four on a Justin Phillips (Phoenix, AZ) three-pointer, the Blueboys continued their hot offensive start and expanded their lead to 22-9 following a Jaxson Dian three-pointer at the 13:46 mark of the opening half.

A Peyton Olsen (Middleburgh, NY) three-pointer on Lyndon's next possession cut the lead back to ten, as the Hornets started to climb back into the game.  When Tyrese Harris (Fort Benning, GA) found Aiden Trapani (Deltona, FL) for a layup, the Hornets trailed only 32-29 with 6:28 to go in the half.

That would be as close as the Hornets would get, as the Blueboys took advantage of some cold shooting and sloppy ball handling to close the half on a 16-0 run to take a 28-29 lead into the halftime break.

Jake Mazirmas drained a three-pointer to open the second half and push the IC lead up to 22 points.  Mohammed Fadika's three-pointer pushed the lead to 23 before the Hornets began to chip away.  Antonio Carlisle's (St. Johnsbury, VT) four-point play got the Lyndon rally started, and a Mondwell Bukle (Pyeongtaek, South Korea) three-pointer pulled the Hornets back to within ten points at 54-44 with 15:13 to go in the game.

IC ended any hopes of a Hornet comeback with a quick ten point run of their own to push the lead back to 20 points.  The Blueboys would pull away from there and cruise to the win.

Josh Harris led IC with a game high 25 points and eight rebounds.  Buzz Ritzel was a perfect ten for ten from the foul line to finish with 15 points.  He also recorded six steals.  Mazrimas chipped in 11 points.  Carlisle was the only Lyndon player to reach double figures, as he finished with 24 points.

The Blueboys forced 27 Lyndon turnovers and converted them into 35 points.  IC also held a 43-27 rebounding advantage.

Lyndon will conclude play in the Panaggio Tournament on Monday at noon when they take on SUNY Brockport at DME Academy.