DELHI, N.Y. – The Vermont State University Castleton men's basketball team opened its 2024-25 slate with a hard-fought loss to the SUNY Delhi Broncos, falling 74-71.
It took just 38 seconds for SUNY Delhi to sink its first three of the season to go up 3-0. VTSU Castleton's
Justin Schwarzbeck wasted no time, recording a three of his own just 20 seconds later.
The hosts looked to go on a run as they were able to string together a pair of buckets to make it 7-3 with 17:43 remaining in the half.
Ben Seiler put this notion to bed as he scored his first three as a Spartan at 17:29, pulling his squad within one.
Zach Thompson recorded his first point of the season on a free throw to tie the game at 7.
The teams continued to trade blows throughout the opening stanza with the Broncos leading for much of the time. A jumper by Seiler gave the Spartans a one-point lead (26-25) with 5:44 remaining. A lead that was relinquished just 24 seconds later.
VTSU Castleton was able to keep it close down the stretch as
Will Radcliff sank a pair of free throws to make it 36-35 in favor of SUNY Delhi and the end of the half.
In another close start, Castleton was able to stay with three-points of the hosts, finally knotting the game at 40 a piece on a Thompson bucket from beyond the arc at 17:31.
The Spartans tacked on another five points recorded by
Isaiah Francis and
Tray Blount to give them their largest lead of the game.
They continued to lead despite giving up a handful of points here and there, but final saw it come to and end at 12:53 as Abdul-Jaleel Ibrahim was able to record a three-pointer of his own (52-50) to start a five-point run in favor of the other guys.
The run was halted by a pair of
Adam Bilodeau points from the charity stripe to make it 57-56, Broncos.
The two teams continued to trade points and the lead throughout the remaining minutes, seeing the scored tied once again with 1:57 remaining, 71 all.
A Lester McCarthy three put the hosts up 74-71 with 11 seconds remaining on the clock. As the time ran down the ball found its way to the hands of graduate student Schwarzbeck who's jumper beyond the arc was off the mark as the buzzer sounded. The contest ended 74-71 with the Broncos claiming the victory.
Despite coming up just short on the scoreboard, the Spartans led the battle off the boards 34-to-28. The team's boards were composed of eight offensive and 26 defensive grabs.
Radcliff led his squad's offensive efforts with 20 points, going 8-for-13 from the field and 4-for-6 from the line. The junior was second in rebounds with seven.
Also pitching in double-digit points tallies were Seiler (17) and Blount (13).
Schwarzbeck was best off the board with his eight rebounds. He also accumulated six points and one assist.
VTSU Castleton remains on the road as it travels to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for a 6:30 p.m. start time on Wednesday, November13.
