CASTLETON, Vt. – The Vermont State University Castleton men's basketball team came up just short in a Little East Conference contest against Plymouth State on Tuesday evening, falling 62-57 at Glenbrook Gym.
The Spartans (4-10, 0-5 LEC) raced out to a 9-0 lead to start the game behind quick ball movement and the hot hands of
Scott Lampron and
Zach Thompson. Lampron had five points in less than a minute and Thompson added four points before two minutes had elapsed in the game. The Panthers responded with a pair of threes, but seven more points from Castleton had the Spartans leading 16-6 five minutes in. The lead grew to 12 after consecutive layups by
Joe Russell, but the Panthers did a good job chipping away at the lead going into halftime as Castleton led 32-26 at the break.
The second half began with a five-point Panther run to pull within one, but Russell buried a three to stop the bleeding. The two sides traded baskets briefly, but a pair of threes by the Panthers gave the visitors their first lead of the night seven minutes into the second half, 42-40. An eight-point outburst by Plymouth four minutes later pushed the score to 50-41 before Russell knocked down a pair of free throws to halt the run. The Spartans were unable to put together any lengthy runs the rest of the way, with Plymouth responding nearly every time Castleton scored. A late layup by Russell pulled the Spartans within five, 62-57, but it was not enough as the final horn sounded.
Thompson finished with a team-leading 17 points while Russell added 15 and Lampron had 10.
Will Radcliff had a team-best 11 rebounds and four assists.
Justin Schwarzbeck finished with nine points and eight boards for the Spartans.
Kyler Bosse took over in the second half for Plymouth State, finishing the night with 29 points. Giorgi Tsiklauri had a 15-point, 16-rebound double-double. Kevin Newton-Delgado grabbed nine rebounds.
The Spartans return to action on Thursday evening at 5 p.m. when they travel south to take on Eastern Connecticut State in Little East action.
