Box Score HENNIKER, N.H. – The Thomas men's basketball lost a North Atlantic Conference game by a final score of 75-73 at New England College on Saturday afternoon. Levi Barnes scored a game-high 37 points on 12-15 shooting from the field.
NEC (9-10, 6-6 NAC) would score the opening four points of the contest but, Thomas (9-10, 7-5 NAC) would take the lead at the 12:42 mark and not trail the rest of the half. Thomas used a 14-2 run late in the half, grabbing their largest lead of the first when they went up 37-26 with 1:37 on the clock. NEC would battle back, cutting the lead to five late but Thomas' Adam Carlsen would hit a three-pointer with 38 seconds remaining to send the Terriers into halftime up 40-32.
NEC would storm back in the second half of play, tying the game at 49-49 just six minutes into the half before taking their first lead since early in the first at the 13:32 mark. The two teams would battle back and forth through the remainder of the second half, which included nine lead changes and seven ties.
NEC would enter the final minute of play up three points but Thomas would get a three-pointer by Carlsen with 34 seconds on the clock to tie the game at 73-73. The Pilgrims would inbound the ball and hold on for the final shot as Dondre James scored the game-winning layup with just three seconds on the clock to secure the 75-73 victory.
Thomas was led by Barnes, who was impressive from the field finishing with a game-high 37 points on 12-of-15 shooting. Owen Brown chipped in 12 points, while Carlsen finished with 11 points.
NEC's Jonathan Byrnes scored seven points, including his 1000th. Robin Wilson finished with a team-high 30 points on 9-of-15 shooting and pulled down a team-high six rebounds.
Thomas will hit the court again on Friday, February 6 when they host conference foe Johnson State College. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 PM.
