Lyndonville, VT - The Vermont State University Lyndon men's basketball team struggled to convert from the field all game and the end result was a 89-58 North Atlantic Conference victory for the University of Maine at Farmington on Friday evening. With the win, the Beavers improved to 12-8 on the season and evened their NAC record at 5-5. Lyndon fell to 1-18 overall and 1-8 in conference play.
The two teams battled on even terms in the early going. Peyton Olsen (Middleburgh, NY) scored the first seven Hornet points in the contest, but UMF kept pace with four different Beavers connecting in the early going. Gregory Gonyea Jr. (Dolgeville, NY) connected on a three-point goal to put the Hornets in front, 10-8, but Jordan Anthony's second chance basket tied things. A Gonyea free throw put Lyndon back in front by one at the 14:17 mark, but Simon Chadbourne's three-pointer ignited a quick 7-0 Beaver run to give UMF a lead it would never relinquish.
The Hornets suffered from miserable shooting in the opening half, but hung in the game by keeping the Beavers in check as well. An Olsen layup cut the UMF lead to 29-22 with 3:16 to go in the half, but the Beavers closed out the period with a Patrick McKenney layup and back to back three-pointers from Cole Banks and Ethan Forrester to take a 37-22 lead into halftime.
The second half was more of the same, as Lyndon was never able to cut into the UMF lead. The guests were 20/36 from the floor, including 6/10 from behind the three-point arc, after intermission to pull away for the victory.
UMF received balanced scoring throughout the lineup. Anthony led the Beavers with 16 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Forrester added 15 points off the bench. Banks and Dylan Griffin added 12 points each and Zachary Mickle chipped in with ten points.
Olsen scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds to pace the Hornets. Gonyea was the only other Lyndon player in double figures, finishing with 16 points.
Tonight's game was part of the national Coaches vs Cancer Suits and Sneakers Week. Coaches vs Cancer is a partnership between the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society established to raise awareness and funds to aid in the fight against cancer. All proceeds from tonight's game went to the American Cancer Society.
The Hornets and Beavers wil tip off again tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 pm. Tomorrow will be Senior Day at Lyndon. The Hornets' six seniors will be honored before tip-off.
