Box Score CASTLETON, VT – Thomas College shot 65.0 percent from the field and made 22 of 28 free throws in the second half to turn a one-point halftime lead into an 83-72 victory at Castleton University in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon.
Five different players scored in double figures for Thomas (3-5, 1-2 NAC) which finished the game shooting 46.3 percent (25-of-54) from the field. Adam Carlsen posted 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting, while Tyheem Simon added 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Carlos Gonzalez (12), Dayne Savage (11) and Andrew Middleton (10) also cracked double figures. Mike Akanji was solid with six points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Defensively, the Terriers limited the Spartans (3-4, 2-1 NAC) to 35.9 percent (24-of-67) shooting from the field and 9-of-35 shooting from downtown. Chad Copeland led Castleton with a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds in 29 minutes of action before fouling out. Casey McGraw contributed 16 points on five threes, with four rebounds while Pavin Parrish was also in double figures with 12 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Castleton jumped out to a 9-2 lead, punctuated by a Copeland dunk off a feed from Parrish at the 15:35 mark. Thomas responded and used a 10-0 run to take a 16-11 lead. The Spartans grabbed a 21-20 lead on a triple from Coloutti with 7:21 left, but four quick points from the Terriers gave them a 24-21 advantage. The teams continued to trade hoops over the final six minutes of the half, with a late Copeland layup pulling Castleton within one, 31-30 at the break.
The teams went back-and-forth over the first three minutes of the second, and a three-point play from Copeland gave the Spartans a 40-37 lead at 17:16. Carlsen tied the game with a three 17 seconds later, igniting a 12-0 run while keeping Castleton scoreless for the next five minutes. The Spartans were able to pull within eight twice in the final eight minutes but Thomas countered every basket and eventually extended its lead to 13 in the final minute before finishing with the 11-point win.
Thomas returns to the court on Wednesday, December 9, when it hosts UMaine-Augusta in the final home game of the semester. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
