Johnson, VT - Mark Comstock (Rutland, VT) scored a game-high 22 points and Castleton limited Johnson State to 19 field goals in a 64-50 North Atlantic Conference men's basketball win Tuesday evening. With the win the Spartans improves to 7-5 overall and 1-0 in conference play, while the Badgers fall to 4-8, 0-1.

Johnson got off to a quick start behind a pair of three-pointers by Ian Passino (Peru, NY) and took an 8-4 lead early. Castleton answered with a 14-0 run capped by a  Comstock three-pointer to make it 18-8 Spartans. 

The Castleton lead grew to 14 at 31-17 but Johnson State ended the half on a 10-0 run to close th egap to 31-27 at intermission.

Johnson tied the game twice early in the second half, the second time at 36-36 following a Leandro Martinez (Philadelphia, PA) three-pointer, but Castleton limited the Badgers to just 14 points the rest of the way to earn the win.

Another Comstock jumper capped a 28-12 Castleton surge over the middle 12 minutes of the second half that gave Castleton a comfortable 18-point bulge, their largest of the game, and the win in the league opener.

Martinez paced Johnson with 17 points including 5-10 shooting from the arc while Passino was the only other Badger to reach double figures with 12 points while adding six assists.

Derick Faragon (Schenectady, NY) scored 11 points to supplement the Castleton offense while Malcolm Still Jr. (Lawnside, NJ) added 10 points off the Spartan bench.

Johnson will host Green Mountain College in their next contest on Tuesday, January 19 at 5:30 pm while Castleton will play at Lyndon State College in their next contest also at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, January 19.