Presque Isle, ME - The University of Maine at Presque Isle used a 16-2 run midway through the first half of Friday's North Atlantic Conference men's basketball game to take control.  The Owls then held off Vermont State University Lyndon and went on to take an 89-74 victory.  UMPI improved to 11-13 on the season and 6-7 in NAC play while Lyndon fell to 3-20 overall and 3-10 in conference.

The two teams went back and forth in the early going, each scoring on five of their first six possessions.  Tavarius Vance (Barrre, VT) converted two free throws to tie the game at 11-11 just over five minutes into the contest.  At that point the Hornets went cold and also got sloppy with the ball.  The Owls capitalized, and a Brice Lawrence fast break layup capped a 16-2 run that pushed UMPI out to a 27-13 lead at the 8:31 mark.

At that point, the Hornets began to chip away.  With the Owls still holding a 33-20 lead, Owen Traynor (Rutland, VT) knocked down a three-pointer, then Luke Warner (Oswego, NY) converted one of two free throws.  Peyton Olsen (Middleburgh, NY) converted an old fashioned three-point play, then connected from distance and suddenly the Hornets were within three points at 33-30 with 3:59 to go in the half.  The Lyndon momentum was quickly extinguished, however, as Gilbert Jean Mendez connected from three point range on the next UMPI possession, igniting a 13-0 Owl run to regain control.  Mondwell Bukle's (Fayetteville, NC) layup just before the buzzer made the score 46-32, UMPI, at intermission.

UMPI pushed their lead out to 20 points in the early going of the second half, following a pair of Akhe McMichael free throws.  The Hornets again fought back, and Matt Doyle's (Whitesboro, NY) layup in traffic cut the Owl lead to 72-63 at the 6:21 mark.  Charlie Mellick answered with a three-pointer for the Owls, then after Traynor converted one of two free throws, McMichael's layup off of a Lyndon turnover and Jean Mendez's basket and free throw pushed the lead back to 15, ending any hopes of a Lyndon comeback.

Dany Harris led the Owls with 18 points and seven rebounds.  McMichael added 14 points while Jean Mendez, Mellick, and Doug McCalla all chipped in with ten points.  McCalla completed the double double with ten rebounds and dished out five assists.

Gregory Gonyea Jr. (Dolgeville, NY) paced Lyndon with 15 points.  Olsen and Bukle finished with 12 and 11 points respectively.  Doyle scored eight points and grabbed a team best nine rebounds.

The Hornets and Owls will run it back on Saturday afternoon.  Tip-off in Presque Isle is set for 1:00 pm.