Lyndonville, VT - Northern Vermont University-Lyndon rallied from a 13-point deficit to defeat SUNY Cobleskill, 83-79, in a North Atlantic Conference men's basketball crossover contest on Wednesday evening. The Hornets improved to 5-12 overall and 2-5 in NAC play with the win. The Fighting Tigers fall to 2-15 on the season and 1-6 in conference.
Cobleskill's Juwan Malone scored twice in the post and Ja'Nyve Smith followed with a driving layup to stake the Tigers to an early 6-2 advantage. Cobleskill extended their advantage to 16-9 following a Shaun Johnson jumper at the 13:48 mark. At that point, Lyndon began to chip away. Antonio Carlisle (St. Johnsbury, VT) bookended a 9-2 Hornet run with pair of three-pointers to give the Hornets their first lead of the game at 19-18 with 11:30 to go in the opening half.
After a Zach Falkenburg (Bridgeport, NY) free throw made it 20-18, Coblekill went on a quick 7-0 run to regain the advantage. The Tigers continued to extend the margin over the next several minutes, and when Naphtali Regilus knocked down a jumper Cobleskill had their biggest lead at 37-24 with 2:30 to go until halftime.
Carlisle and Falkenburg each converted a pair of free throws to stop the run. Then a three ball from Mondwell Bukle (Pyeongtaek, South Korea) and a free throw from Aiden Trapani (Deltona, FL) brought the Hornets to within 37-32 at intermission.
Cobleskill gradually built their lead back up as the second half started. When Regulis scored on a putback, the Tiger lead was back in double figures at 54-44 with 15:12 to go. The Hornets responded with a 13-4 run, capped by Falkenburg's steal and layup to make it a one-pont game with 11:25 remaining.
Carlisle's jumper gave Lyndon their first lead of the game, 61-60, with 9:22 to go. After Smith's driving layup put the Tigers back in front, a Carlisle three gave the Hornets the lead back. After a defensive stop, Luke Fredsell (Whitesboro, NY) found Carlisle for a layup to extend the Hornet lead to four points.
Cobleskill's Kevin Cadet drained a three-pointer to bring the Tigers back within one, then a Malone layup gave Cobleskill back the lead. Two Carlisle free throws put Lyndon back in front at the 6:36 mark, then a Jeremy Peralta (Hagerstown, MD) layup and a Carlisle three extended the Hornet advantage to 73-67.
Cobleskill got back to within one following a Naphtali layup and a Malone three, but Fredsell answered with a three of his own for Lyndon, then Bukle grabbed a big offensive rebound and found Carlisle for a score to make it a six point game again.
Malone's dunk off of an inbounds set cut the Hornet advantage to four, but another Fredsell three on the next Hornet possession gave Lyndon an 81-74 lead with 1:48 to go.
The Tigers did not go quietly, however. Malone knocked down a three-pointer, then Cobleskill forced a Hornet turnover and Mekhi Woodbury drove and scored to cut the Lyndon lead to 81-79 with 1:02 to go. After the Hornets came up empty on their next trip, Cobleskill had the ball with a chance to tie or win. The Hornets were able to come up with the defensive stop, and Jaden Phillips (Tempe, AZ) converted a pair of free throws with nine seconds remaining to seal the victory.
Carlisle led all scorers with a career high 31 points. He made 10 of 17 shots from the floor, including four of seven from behind the three-point arc, and was a perfect seven of seven from the free throw line. Phillips posted a double double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Falkenburg and Fredsell chipped in with 12 and 10 points respectively.
Malone led Cobleskill with 28 points and 12 rebounds. Smith finished with 20 points and Regilus also reached double figures with 12 points.
Lyndon converted 29 of 66 attempts (43.9%), including 10 of 28 from behind the three-point arc. Cobleskill was 35 of 84 (41.7%), including six of 15 (40.0%) from distance. The Hornets held a big advantage at the foul line, making 15 of 24 attempts to only three of five for the Tigers. Cobleskill held a 48-42 rebounding advantage and both teams committed 13 turnovers.
The Hornets will return to action this weekend when they host Husson University in a pair of NAC contests. The Hornets and Eagles will tip off at 5:30 pm on Friday evening, then run it back on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 pm.
