Lyndonville, VT - Northern Vermont University-Lyndon used a 10-2 run midway through the second half to gain control of Friday's North Atlantic Conference men's basketball game against Thomas College. The Hornets would hold off the Terriers from there and come away with an 88-72 win, improving their overall record to 4-13. It was Lyndon's first NAC win in six conference outings. Thomas fell to 3-12 on the season and 1-6 in conference.
The game was tightly contested early on, before back to back three-pointers from Mondwell Bukle (Pyeongtaek, South Korea) followed by another three from Peyton Olsen (Middleburgh, NY) opened up a 19-10 Lyndon advantage at the 11:13 mark. Thomas responded with a 12-3 run of their own and tied things up on a Parker Desjardins jumper with 8:48 to go in the half. The two teams battled on nearly even terms the rest of the half, with Lyndon taking a 40-38 lead into the locker room.
The Hornets looked like they might take control at the onset of the second half, as another Bukel three ball and a basket and free throw from Gregory Gonyea Jr. (Dolgeville, NY) quickly extended the Lyndon lead to eight. Thomas again responded, however, and went on a 12-0 run of their own, grabbing a 50-46 lead on Kory winch's layup at the 15:51 mark.
With Thomas leading by three, a Tyrese Harris (Fort Benning, GA) layup followed by an Olsen drive and score put the Hornets back in front. Gonyea's layup after a Thomas turnover and a putback basket from Calder Horowitz-McCadden pushed the lead to five with 11:45 remaining. Two Gonyea free throws a short time later built the lead to double figures at 67-57.
The Hornet lead eventually reached 15 following a Harris layup at the 5:09 mark, but Thomas would fight back. A Sawyer Deprey layup followed by a Desjardins basket and free throw, another Deprey fast break bucket, and a Matthew Hadnot free throw cut the Lyndon advantage to 7 at 77-70 with 3:13 to go. Olsen's layup and free throw stemmed the tide, then after a Hadnot basket, Bukle connected on a corner three to open the lead back to 11. the Hornets would cruise to the victory from there.
Gonyea led Lyndon with 22 points and also chipped in five rebounds and four assists, Olsen finished with a double double of 19 points and 10 rebounds. Bukle added 15 and Harris dished out a game high eight assists.
Desjardins paced Thomas with 22 points. Deprey and Hadnot also finished in double figures with 17 and 11 points respectively.
The Hornets and Terriers will square off again on Saturday afternoon in Stannard Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 3:00 pm.
