Castleton, VT – The University of Maine-Farmington used a 12-4 run late in the second half, and converted 14-straight from the free-throw line down the stretch to earn a 76-70 win over Castleton in a battle for the top spot in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) men's basketball standings.

Andrew Dean (Gorham, ME) scored a team-high 19 points, including 10-straight from the free throw line late in the game to put the game away. Josh Tanguay (Gorham, ME) added 14 and Eric Lelansky (Portland, ME) added 14 and 13 respectively.

Derick Faragon (Schenectady, NY) scored a game-high 22 points on 11-of-22 shooting to pace the Spartan offense. Mike Knight (Spring Valley, NY) made 7-of-8 from the field en route to 16 points and also hauled in seven rebounds (six offensive) as Castleton falls to 15-8 overall and 9-3 in conference play. Jared Paul (Tampa, FL) rounded out the scorers in double-figures with a dozen.

Neither team led by more than seven, in an opening half that saw five ties and eight lead changes. Farmington was able to open up the 28-21 lead with 5:57 remaining, thanks to a 9-2 run. Lelansky sandwiched a Mike Gingras (Winthrop, ME) to provide the scoring punch. Castleton answered with a 9-2 run of its own to close out the half, capped by a three-pointer from Paul with five ticks remaining to send the game into the interval tied at 30 apiece.

The second half was much of the same, featuring four ties and 10 lead changes, and neither team showing the ability to pull away over the first nine minutes. Farmington was able to open up an eight point lead, once again using the three-ball as Dean cashed in on a pair to cap the 12-4 run to make it 60-52 with 5:46 remaining. Castleton once again, answered, cutting the lead to 60-58, but Eric Taylor (Oakland, ME) sunk a jumper from the left elbow to push the lead back to four, and the 10-11, 10-2 Beavers salted the game away from the free throw line down the stretch.

Castleton will travel to Maine Maritime Academy Friday evening for an 8:00 p.m. tip-off. A Spartan win would clinch at least the second seed in the upcoming NAC Tournament.

Farmington is also back in action Friday, playing host to Johnson State at 7:30 p.m. A Beaver victory assures them the top-seed, as they now hold the head-to-head tie breaker over Castleton.