CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Spartans slow start came back to haunt them as they dropped a tight 84-77 decision to Elms on Thursday evening at Picknelly Arena.

The loss is the second straight for Castleton and drops the team's record to 4-6 on the season. Junior Mark Comstock (Rutland, Vt.) led three players in double figures with a career-high 25 points on a very efficient 10-for-13 shooting. He also grabbed six rebounds, dished out three assists and recorded a pair of steals. Sophomore Matt Cooney (Washingtonville, N.Y.) finished with 13 points, five rebounds and two steals while Keith Schneider (Benson, Vt.) had 11 points and four assists.

David McDaniel (Plainfield, N.J.) and Daniel Gonzalez (East Windsor, Conn.) led the Blazers with 21 points apiece as they improved to 6-4 with the victory. McDaniel grabbed eight boards, including five on the offensive end while Gonzalez went 5-for-9 from behind the arc.

Elms opened the game on a 16-2 run over the first 5:58, before five straight points by freshman Mark Pryzbylkowski (New Egypt, N.J.) cut the lead to nine at the 12:28 mark. However, two minutes later the Blazers managed to extend their lead to 30-11.

The Spartans treaded water for the next four minutes, until an 8-0 run closed the gap to six at 32-26 with 6:24 remaining in the half. Castleton wouldn't get any closer, but two teams traded buckets for the remainder of the half and the Spartans went into the break trailing 42-33.

In the second, the teams continued to go back and forth through the half's first seven minutes. With 12:37 left, Cooney hit a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 57-48. It was the start of a 16-5 run, as Castleton came all the way back to tie the game at 62 on three by Schneider with 8:42 remaining in the game.

The Spartans were unable to take the lead, but continued to pressure Elms in the final minutes. Four straight points closed the gap to 76-73 with 1:29 left, however, Castleton was forced to foul in the final minute and the Blazers missed just one shot, a free throw, during that span as they held on for the 84-77 victory.

The Spartans return to the court on Jan. 10, when they travel to face conference foe Lyndon at 5:30 p.m.