JOHNSON, Vt. – Castleton went on a 9-0 run late in the second half to turn a five-point deficit into a four-point lead and then made its shots in the final minute to earn a 76-71 victory over Johnson St. on the road Tuesday evening.  

The Spartans went 3-for-4 from the free throw line and received a big three from Joshua Horton in the last minute to improve to 11-8 overall and 9-4 in the North Atlantic Conference. Castleton shot 42.6 percent from the floor and went 7-for-15 from beyond the arc while outrebounding the Badgers 33-28. Johnson St. shot 47.2 percent overall and 39.1 percent from downtown but turned the ball over 17 times to fall to 2-17 and 2-10 in the NAC. 

Carnelius Green did a bit of everything for the Spartans, leading the team with 19 points to go with nine rebounds, including six offensive, four assists and three steals. Rob Coloutti registered 18 points after going 6-for-9 from beyond the arc while Pavin Parrish added 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists. 

Ron Adrian led the Badgers with 18 points and four rebounds while Demetrius Slade scored 14 points while pulling down nine rebounds and dishing off four assists. Asim Khan chipped in 17 points and three assists. 

Castleton came out strong and grabbed a 12-8 lead on a layup by Tondi Mushandu at 13:33. A 6-4 run by Coloutti extended it to 18-13, but seven straight by Johnson St. put the home team in front 20-18 with 10:31 left. The two teams traded baskets over the remainder of the half, with a triple from Adrian in the final minute giving the Badgers a 37-33 lead at the break. 

Over the first six minutes of the second half, the Spartans couldn't quite draw even, but Coloutti eventually tied the game 50-50 at 13:47. Johnson St. countered with the next ten points before another three from Coloutti made it 60-53 with 12:02 left. Castleton regrouped and went on a run to pull within two, 62-20, on a Coloutti triple and Dante Hatem tied the game at 62 apiece with 6:20 remaining. 

Parrish made a pair of free throws for the two-point lead and Castleton didn't trail again. The Badgers pulled back within three with 1:13 left, but Horton drilled a three off a feed from Casey McGraw for the 73-67 advantage with just 44 seconds left in regulation. The Spartans then went 3-for-4 in the last ten seconds to put the game away.

Castleton returns to action on Saturday when the team hosts Green Mountain at 3 pm.