PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Castleton State College made 17 three-point baskets on 49 attempts Tuesday evening to record its first victory of the season, defeating Plymouth State University, 93-91, in a non-conference men's basketball game at Foley Gymnasium.
Senior Greg Hughes (West Rutland, Vt.) led the Spartans with 24 points, making 6-of-13 from three-point range. Sophomore Matt Cooney (Washingtonville, N.Y.) and juniors Dammy Mustapha (Bellows Falls, Vt.) and Mark Comstock (Rutland, Vt.) tossed in 13 points each for the winners, and senior Keith Schneider (Benson, Vt.) chipped in with 10. Comstock posted a double-double with 10 rebounds along with his 13 points.
The Panthers were led by senior Brian Chergey (Bow, N.H.), who scored 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 6-of-7 from three-point range. Senior Jesse Sabolis (Stoughton, Mass.) and freshman Shomari Morgan (Manchester, N.H./Memorial) both tossed in 18 points for the Panthers and junior Stephan Roberts (Kissimmee, Fla.) finished with 11 points. Sophomore Mark MacGregor (Rochester, N.H.) collected a game-high 11 rebounds.
Plymouth State shot better (47.5 percent from the field, compared to 38.8 percent for Castleton), hit from long range better (50 percent compared to 34.7 percent) and owned a 55-43 advantage on the boards, but the Spartans made 17 three-pointers compared to just nine for the home team.
The Spartans came out firing, and didn't stop until the game was over. PSU held its own, though, and took an eight-point lead five minutes into the game. The Panthers extended their lead to 12 points (32-20) with eight minutes to go in the first half, only to see Castleton go on a 20-8 burst to tie the game at 40-all with 3:36 on the clock. The teams traded baskets over the final three minutes and went to the locker room tied at 50-50.
PSU made three straight three-pointers, two by Chergey and one by Morgan, to open up a 10-point bulge (77-67) with 11 minutes to play. It was an 11-point Panther margin (85-74) with 6:50 on the clock when Castleton went on a run, outscoring the Panthers 17-2 over the next five minutes to take a 91-87 lead. Schneider hit a pair of threes in the burst, while Cooney, sophomore Tyler Ackley (Scotia, N.Y.) and Hughes each made one.
The Panthers trailed by two points and got the ball back with 10 seconds remaining, but a last-second shot to tie the game would not fall.
Both teams will break for Thanksgiving; the Panthers (2-2) are back on the court next Thursday, Dec. 1, against Salem State University, while Castleton (1-2) travels to Maine-Farmington and Thomas College on Dec. 2-3.