Lyndonville, VT - Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts used a nine-point run late in the game to pull away from Vermont State University Lyndon and come away with a 97-84 victory in Wednesday night's non-conference men's basketball opener for both teams. The visiting Trailblazers led throughout the contest but were unable to shake the Hornets until the decisive late run.
MCLA jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first two minutes of the contest before Gregory Gonyea Jr. (Dolgeville, NY got the Hornets on the board. The Trailblazers maintained a single digit lead until a 6-0 run capped by a Levi Spina (Whitesboro, NY) steal and layup tied things at 44-44 with 1:06 to go in the opening half. Back to back baskets by MCLA's Dylan Morris-Gray and Quentin Gittens sent the visitors into halftime with a 48-44 lead.
The Hornets again drew even at the start of the second half following back to back baskets from Calder Horowitz-McCadden (South Burlington, VT) and Peyton Olsen (Middleburgh, NY), but MCLA recaptured the lead on a Hayden Morris-Gray layup. The Trailblazers extended their advantage to 12 with an 18-6 run capped by a Jake Bluestein three-pointer.
With MCLA holding a 76-64 lead and just under ten minutes remaining, Lyndon again climbed back in the game. When Olsen converted a fast break layup and free throw, the Hornets were within four at 77-73 with 6:52 to go. Those points also pushed Olsen to the 1,000 point mark as a college player.
Lyndon was still within three following an Olsen three at the 5:03 mark, but another 9-0 run capped by a Hayden Morris-Gray three put the game away for MCLA.
Gittens scored a game high 26 points on 9/11 shooting from the floor and 8/10 shooting from the free throw line. Dylan Morris-Gray added 22 points and Mamadou Diallo posted a double double with 12 points and ten rebounds.
Gonyea scored 21 points to pace Lyndon. Olsen added 19 and Mondwell Bukle (Pyeongtaek, South Korea) also reached double figures with 18.
MCLA dominated the game on the glass, outrebounding Lyndon 52-28 and outscoring the Hornets on second chance points, 23-9. The Trailblazers were 33/72 (45.8%) from the floor, 9/28 (32.1%) from the three-point arc, and 22/32 (68.8%) from the free throw line. The Hornets were 29/65 (44.6%) from the floor, 8/22 (36.4%) from three, and 18/29 (62.1%) from the free throw line.
Lyndon returns home on Friday evening when they host Framingham State University in the opening game of the Vermont State University Tip-Off Classic. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 pm. Vermont State University Johnson and Vermont State University Randolph will meet in the nightcap at 7:30 pm.
