PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Vermont State University Castleton men's basketball team dropped a Little East Conference tilt to Plymouth State on Wednesday night, falling 78-59 on the road.
 
Joe Russell, Scott Lampron and Will Radcliff finished with 10 points apiece to lead the offense. Russell also snagged nine rebounds to tie for a game-high. Justin Schwarzbeck added seven points and five rebounds.
 
Kyler Bosse led all players with 26 points and led the Panthers with nine boards. Torran Bosworth had 13 points as did Tyler Clark-Toy. Bosworth also collected seven assists.
 
The Panthers got off to a fast start, leading 10-2 just over three minutes in. The Spartans rebounded with a 5-0 run thanks to a layup by Russell and a three from Lampron, but Plymouth State's home-court comfort allowed them to inch ahead consistently over the next few minutes before exploding for eight unanswered points and a 29-13 lead. Another eight-point run by the Panthers pushed the gap to 36-15 before the Spartans rattled off eight points of their own to return the deficit to 36-23. Plymouth led 43-29 at halftime.
 
After the Spartans got on the board first to open the second half, Plymouth State scored 12 unanswered points to cement its lead. The Panthers kept Castleton at bay the remainder of the half, not allowing the Spartans to score more than five unanswered points until the two-plus minutes. VTSU Castleton closed the game on a 6-0 run to lock in the 78-59 final.
 
The Spartans return home on Saturday at 3 p.m. for an LEC battle against Eastern Connecticut at Glenbrook Gym.