Poultney, Vt. – Carnelius Green's three bounced off the rim at the buzzer as the Spartans held on for a dramatic 89-87 victory over Green Mountain on Saturday afternoon in North Atlantic Conference action. 

Trailing by two, the Eagles set up for one final shot with less than 20 seconds left. The Spartan defense managed to knock away the ball inside and Green picked it up on the right wing. With Tyler Ackley pressuring him, Green was forced to hoist a shot from 25 feet out that bounced off the rim as time expired. 

Castleton shot 44.3 percent from the field for the game and 40.0 percent from three as the team improved to 12-10 and 10-5 in the NAC with the win. Green Mountain hit on 48.5 percent of its attempts, but gave up 16 offensive rebounds as the Eagles dropped to 4-17 overall and 3-12 in conference. 

Senior Mark Comstock was dominant with a career-high 35 points and ten rebounds while Logan White hit seven threes en route to 29 points.  Freshman Chad Copeland joined them in double figures with 18 points and eight rebounds, including five on the offensive end. 

Green led the Eagles with 20 points, four assists and four rebounds as five players reached double figures for Green Mountain. Elijah Wiggins chipped in with 15 points, four rebounds and three steals.

The Spartans got off to a slow start and Green Mountain jumped out to a 16-9 lead in first 5:34. Castleton responded with a three from Logan White and an old-fashioned three-point play from Comstock to take a 26-24 lead at 10:39. The teams traded baskets over the next two minutes, with a pair of free throws by Copeland putting the Spartans in front 32-30 with 9:17 left.

The teams traded baskets, before a fast break dunk by Comstock gave Castleton a lead 37-35 at 5:44. White followed with a three from the corner to extend it to 40-35 40 seconds later. The Spartan defense locked down and went on a 7-2 run to take a ten-point lead with 2:28 remaining. However, Green Mountain finished the half on a 7-3 run to trail just 50-44 at the break.

In the second the Eagles came out the aggressor, going on a 10-6 run over the first 3:51 to cut the Castleton lead to 56-54, prompting a timeout. It was back-and-forth over the next four minutes as a three by White gave the Spartans a 66-61 advantage. However, a 5-0 run by Green tied the scored up 66-66 with 11:19 remaining.

An offensive rebound and layup by Dammy Mustapha gave the Spartans back the lead and Copeland followed with a free throw to make it 69-66 with 10:14 left. Robert Holloway responded with a three, but White came back with one of his own to make it 72-69. Following an Eagles jumper, Comstock hit a pair of free throws for the 74-71 lead with 7:59 remaining 

Castleton wasn't able to extend its lead higher than four over the next four minutes, with a pair of free throws by Cassius Belfon, cutting the deficit to 84-82 with just 3:44 left. Comstock responded with a layup but missed the ensuing free throw to make it a four-point game at 2:59. 

The Eagles' Terry Jones made two free throws to cut it to 86-84. Copeland countered with a layup on the other end and then blocked Green and knocked the ball of his leg. With 1:23 left Comstock made a free throw for the 89-84 Castleton lead, however Green hit a three from the top of the key with 50 seconds left to once again make it a two-point game. Neither team would scored again, including the last-second attempt by Green.

Comstock's 35 points give him 1,513 for his career, becoming just the fifth player in program history to surpass the 1,500 point barrier. White's seven threes were a season high and just one short of his career-high eight set last year against Green Mountain.

The Spartans return to action Tuesday when they travel to Johnson St. for a 5:30 pm game.