Green Mountain's (6-2, 3-1 NAC) impressive run after losing its opening game of the season comes to an end at six-straight games with the loss.
Lyndon (3-4, 1-1 NAC) picks up its first conference win of the year with the narrow victory which came on a free throw by Eric Vargas after he missed his first opportunity to give the team a lead with seconds remaining. Vargas then cemented the win on the ensuing inbound play when he stole the ball.
The Hornets received a monster performance by Xavier Colbert who notched 29 points on 12-of-21 shooting and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds in addition to his three steals. The visitors also received double-digit scoring from Raymond Monroe who had 18 points on an efficient 8-for-12 night, Vargas who scored 13 and Alexis Ravelo who posted 11 points in addition to his six rebounds.
The Eagles were led by Jared Carithers (Washington, D.C.) who posted 20 points. Cameron Anderson (Charlottesville, Va.) and Mychal Parker (Washington, N.C.) both notched a double-double with Anderson recording 19 points and 10 rebounds and Parker tallying 14 points and 10 boards. Thomas Brown (Charlottesville, Va.) scored 17 and posted five boards and three assists.
As they had done in their previous two games, the Eagles jumped out to a comfortable first half lead doubling the visitors at 33-16 on a Javier Lugris (Madrid, Spain) layup at the 9:56 mark. Carithers contributed 13 points to help establish the lead. The lead would fluctuate through the end of the half, but the Eagles would enjoy a 55-41 cushion heading into the break.
A three-pointer, a layup and a dunk by Lyndon would bring the Hornets to within seven just a minute and a half into the second quarter. The visitors certainly came out of the half determined to close the deficit and outplayed the Eagles during that stretch.
The teams traded baskets over the next several minutes, but back-to-back three pointers by Vargas and Howard Lyles brought the Hornets even at 67-67 with 10:40 to play.
The game would see seven lead changes from that point forth as neither team was able to generate any runs and the scored stayed within three points the rest of the way.
After Colbert's made free throw with 17 second remaining gave the Hornets an 88-85 lead, the Eagles' Sampson Dale (Charlottesville, Va.) hit a tough running jumper and was fouled on the play. He hit the subsequent free throw to even the game at 88-88 with 00:09 ticks left.
Vargas drove to the hoop on the next play and drew a foul upon which he made the winning conversion and then sealed it with his effort on the inbound play.
Each team shot the ball really well from the floor and really poorly from the charity stripe. Lyndon held the advantage in fastbreak points 14-2, while the Eagles won the battle of the boards with a 42-39 edge.
The Eagles leave the comfy confines of home for their next contest at NAC opponent Johnson on Saturday at 1 p.m., bringing a close to the 2015 portion of the schedule. Lyndon will host Castleton on the same day also at 1 p.m.