CASTLETON, Vt. - The Spartans put on their most impressive defensive display of the season, holding Maine-Maritime to 20 second-half points on their way to an 85-52 win in Glenbrook Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

Castleton held the Mariners to just 9-for-31 shooting in the second half and outscored its opponent by 15 points to earn its most lopsided victory of the season. The Spartans also recorded 14 steals on 25 turnovers while giving the ball away just 12 times on offense. They improve to 3-1 in the North Atlantic Conference and 4-4 overall with the victory while Maine-Maritime goes to 2-6 overall and 1-2 in the NAC.

The Spartans had a balanced scoring attack as 14 different players saw action and 12 scored at least two points. Senior Greg Hughes (West Rutland, Vt.) once again led the team with 17 points and added three assists without a turnover. Sophomore Matt Cooney (Washingtonville, N.Y.) missed just one shot on the day to finish with 14 points, four assists and one steal. Junior Mark Comstock (Rutland, Vt.) was also in double figures with 13 points and seven rebounds.

Shawn Dostie (Bowdoinham, Maine) was the Mariners' top scorer, contributing 19 points, six rebounds and one block. Andy Ball (Hermon, Maine) joined him in double figures with 17 points and added eight rebounds and four steals.

Neither team shot particularly well to start the contest, but the Spartans defense was able to force a number of turnovers and grab a 13-4 lead 4:35 into the contest on a three by Keith Schneider (Fair Haven, Vt.). Castleton kept pressing and maintained their advantage over the next ten minutes.

A 7-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back threes from Schneider and Mark Pryzbylkowski (New Egypt, N.J.), pushed the lead to 47-28 with just 2:10 remaining in the half and the Spartans went into the break with a 50-32 advantage.

Castleton opened the second on a 14-2 run over the half's first eight minutes, highlighted by eight points from junior Dammy Mustapha (Bellows Falls, Vt.). A three by the visitors at the 12:04 mark brought the deficit down below 30 at 64-37. Both teams emptied their benches and traded points over the final 12 minutes as the Spartans lead grew as high as 34 with 1:37 left before finishing with the 85-52 victory.

Mustapha and Schneider were active once again for Castleton, scoring eight points apiece while pulling down nine rebounds and recording six combined steals. Freshman Chris Barletta (Hazleton, Pa.) led the team with five assists on the afternoon.

The Spartans are off until January, when they host eighth-ranked Williams on the Jan. 2 at 7 p.m.