NORTHFIELD, VT.- The Vermont State University Castleton men's basketball team began its 2026-27 season on the road Saturday night at the Cadet Classic hosted by Norwich University. Four Spartans scored in double figures as Castleton won 105-96.

The Basics
Final Score: VTSU Castleton 105, Thomas (ME) 96
Location: Andrews Hall – Northfield, Vt.
Records: VTSU Castleton, 1-0 | Thomas (ME) 0-2

How It Happened
The Spartans scored the first points of the game on a three-point basket by Zach Thompson (Enfield, N.H./Mascoma Valley) 20 seconds into the first half. Thomas would go on to lead 11-5 at the 16:55 mark of the half. A 6-0 run by the Spartans tied the contest at 11-11. Castleton trailed 17-14 at the 12:51 mark. The Spartans then embarked on a 14-2 run that spanned over three and a half minutes of game time to take a 28-19 lead at 8:17. Castleton's lead expanded it 11 points, 42-31, with 3:46 left in the half. The Terriers overtook the Spartan lead and went up by a point, 47-46, with 52 seconds remaining. Castleton would go on to lead 50-47 at halftime with a pair of free throws by Devan Cooper (White Plains, N.Y./Valhalla HS) and a layup by Seamus DeMauro (Delhi, N.Y./Delaware Academy).

In the second half, the Terriers tied the game at 53-all a minute into the period. Castleton went ahead on a Sam Sweeney (Burlington, Vt./CVU) three-point basket. The Spartans went ahead 63-57 at 16:51 until the Terriers closed to within one point, 63-62, at 15:30. Thomas tied the game twice but both times the Spartans would pull ahead. Castleton expanded its lead to 83-76 with 7:36 left to play in the game. Thomas whittled that lead down to a point, 85-84, with less than six minutes left to play. Castleton built its lead back up to nine points, 95-86, with just over two minutes remaining.  The remainder of the game was decided by free throws as Castleton did its job at the line to stay ahead and win the game.

By the Numbers

• Sweeney led the Spartans with 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting. He was 5-of-10 from beyond the three-point arc and also came away with three rebounds and three steals. 
• Will Radcliff finished with 17 points, six rebounds, three blocks, and two assists

• Josh Mills scored 13 points to go with six rebounds and two assists.
• Joe Buxton added 10 points. 
• As a team, Castleton was 35-of-85 (41.2%) from the floor
• The Spartans outscored the Terriers 24-18 in points off turnovers, 28-7 in second chance points, and 45-13 in bench points

 
Castleton will face the University of Maine Augusta on the second day of the Classic tomorrow. Game time will be at 12:00 p.m.