Lyndonville, VT - In a game that saw 18 lead changes and four ties, the Vermont State University Lyndon men's basketball team battled the State University of New York at Delhi down to the final seconds before the defending North Atlantic Conference champion Broncos escaped with a 79-75 non-conference victory. Delhi improved to 10-5 with the win, while Lyndon remained winless in 16 contests.
The Hornets and Broncos battled back and forth in the early going, with neither team able to take a lead of more than three points in the opening minutes. With Delhi holding a 9-8 lead, Lyndon's Peyton Olsen (Middleburgh, NY) scored inside, then Gregory Gonyea Jr. (Dolgeville, NY) followed with a fast break basket off of an Olsen pass. Olsen followed with a steal and basket to give the Hornets a 14-9 advantage six minutes into the contest.
Delhi's Jason Tagios scored to break the Hornet run, but Tavarius Vance (Barre, VT) came up with a steal and score to put Lyndon back up five. After Emerson Therneus scored for Delhi, Owen Traynor (Rutland, VT) connected from three-point range to make it 19-13, Lyndon, with 11:25 to go in the half. Tagios then scored eight straight points for Delhi to put the Broncos back up two, but Traynor's three-pointer gave Lyndon back the lead.
The two teams would continue to go back and forth, with neither gaining an advantage of more than one possession until Delhi's Lester McCarthy connected on a three-pointer to give Delhi a six point lead with 34 seconds left in the opening half. Two Gonyea free throws cut the Bronco lead to 39-35 heading into intermission.
The beginning of the second half continued to be closely contested, with the Broncos clinging to a small lead in the opening minutes. With the Broncos up one, a quick 6-0 Delhi run capped by Marvin Louissant's rebound basket gave the Broncos a 47-40 lead with 16:37 to go. Lyndon would climb their way back, however, and when Luke Warner (Oswego, NY) found Traynor for a layup, Lyndon regained the lead at 55-54 with 11:09 to go in the game.
A Mondwell Bukle (Pyeongtaek, South Korea) three-pointer extended the Lyndon lead to four, Back to back threes from Pablo Quinones and Seth Keller put Delhi back in front, but Aiden Trapani (Delton, FL) connected on a three of his own to make it 55-54 Lyndon. Delhi gradually extended the lead until Javontay Pimkin was fould shooting a three and converted all three shots to give Delhi a 75-69 advantage.
The Hornets wouldn't go away, and Gonyea's rebound basket cut the lead to three, 78-75, with 1:08 to go. Lyndon then got a defensive stop, but the Hornets were unable to convert on three game-tying three-pointers. Therneus made one of two free throws with three seconds remaining to seal the win for Delhi.
Louissant topped four double figure scorers for the Broncos, finishing with 13 points. Keller added 12 points and McCarthy and Tagios chipped in with ten points apiece. Warren Davis recorded ten rebounds and six assists for the Broncos,
Freshmen Vance and Traynor tied for game high honors with 15 points each to pace Lyndon. Gonyea and Olsen added 14 points apiece. Gonyea, Olsen, Chad Martin (Henniker, NH) and Tyrese Harris (Fort Benning, GA) pulled down six rebounds each and Olsen added three assists.
The Hornets will host Maine Maritime Academy in a pair of NAC East Division games this Friday and Saturday. The Hornets and Mariners will tip at 5:30 pm on Friday, then run it back at 1:00 pm on Saturday.
