CASTINE, Maine – Maine Maritime Academy Men's Basketball fell to North Atlantic Conference opponent Green Mountain College on Saturday afternoon, 81-74. The Mariners fall to 1-8 on the season and 0-4 in the NAC. The Eagles improve to 2-6 overall and 2-2 in the conference.
Green Mountain used a pair of quick three-pointers to jump out to an early 6-2 lead over the Mariners, and took a narrow 37-33 lead into the half, following a 10-6 run by Maine Maritime.
The Eagles came out hot in the second half, scoring seven unanswered points, before the Mariners found their stride, responding with a nine-point run to close the lead to 46-43.
Maine Maritime tied the game on a pair of Kyle Boucher (Wayne, Maine) free throws, with 12:16 remaining in the game, and proceeded to take the lead moments later when Nick Holt (Ellsworth, Maine) sank a three-pointer to take the 51-48 advantage. The two teams exchanged the lead, with the Mariners finding themselves up by as much as three (54-51) with 9:19 left.
The Eagles went on a 12-point run to build a 63-54 lead with 6:03 remaining, but the Mariners weren't going down without a fight. Boucher used two three-point plays to bring the Mariners within two, 67-65, with a little over two minutes remaining.
Green Mountain earned all of their points from going 14 of 18 from the line in the final two minutes, while the Mariners continued to battle, but fell short 81-74.
The Mariners had five players in double figures in the loss. Boucher led the Mariners with 18 points, six rebounds and four blocks off the bench while Tyler Thayer (Hermon, Maine) added 14 points, three assists, a rebound and a steal. Holt and Dylan Stevens (Wells, Maine) recorded 11 points each, with Holt adding six rebounds, and Stevens three.
The Eagles were led by reserve Cassius Belfon who grabbed a game-high 25 points, five rebounds and a pair of assists. Chris Strong added 21 points, six rebounds and five assists and Cameron Anderson picked up 11 points, nine rebounds.
The Mariners will return to action on December 30th at Lehman.