Lyndonville, VT - Vermont State University Lyndon was able to carve out a halftime lead over Framingham State University in Friday's men's basketball contest.  Unfortunately for the home team, the Rams were able to rally for a 97-91 victory in the opening game of the 2023 Vermotn State University Tip-Off Classic.  Framingham evened their record at 1-1, while Lyndon fell to 0-2.

Lyndon jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead on back to back three-pointers from Peyton Olsen (Middleburgh, NY) and Aiden Trapani (Deltona, FL) on their first two possessions of the game.  Framingham responded with a 9-0 burst of their own to take the lead,  After Johathan Noel's jumper in the lane made it 17-14, Rams, Mondwell Bukle (Pyeongtaek, South Korea) connected from three-point range to pull the Hornets even.

A Bukle transition basket followed by back to back threes from Gregory Gonyea Jr. (Dolgeville, NY) and Levi Spina (Whitesboro, NY) gave the Hornets an eight point advantage, 25-17, with 11:33 to go in the opening half.  Lyndon maintained the advantage throughout the remainder of the half, but Kyle Philistin's layup just before the halftime buzzer narrowed the Hornet lead to 44-41 at the break.

Noel scored on the first Ram possession of the second half to cut the Lyndon lead to one, but Gonyea responded with a three-pointer to give the Hornets a 47-43 lead.  Framibngham was able to sieze the lead back with an 8-0 run helped by some Hornet miscues.  After a Gonyea three made it 51-50 at the 16:55 mark, the Rams were able to gradually extend their lead.  when Philistin scored on a put back, Framingham was up 69-59 with 9:46 to go.

A pair of Gonyea baskets book ending an Olsen layup cut the Framingham lead to 74-70 with 6:28 to go, but that would be as close as Lyndon would get, as Framingham held off the Hornets the rest of the way.

Philistin had a huge game, leading Framingham with 29 points on 11 of 15 shooting from the floor.  Adonis Vashon added 17 points and eight rebounds, while Noel and Diego Ledesma chipped in with 14 and 10 points respectively.

Gonyea paced Lyndon with 27 points.  Bukle added 18 and Olsen finished with 13.  Tyrese Harris (Fort Benning, GA) recorded 11 points and four assists while Matt Doyle (Whitesboro, NY) pulled down a team high eight rebounds.

The Hornets will play Vermont State University Johnson in the Classic consolation game at 1:00 pm on Saturday.  Framingham will take on Vermont State University Randolph in the championship game at 3:00 pm.  Randolph defeated Johnson, 76-70, in Friday's second contest.