Green Mountain accomplished something it had not done in the last five years, winning its first game of the season. The last time the Eagles opened up a season with a win was back in 2011-12 when the team defeated Albany Pharmacy, 83-80. 

In the win against the Fighting Saints, the Eagles shot 44.4 percent from the field and converted on nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc, hitting on 12-of-31 attempts while holding the hosts to a 41.9 percent mark from the floor and 4-of-13 from deep.   The Eagles also proved to be opportunistic scoring 25 points off turnovers. 

Leading the way for GMC (1-0) was Patrick Rittmon who poured in a game and career-high 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting, including a 6-of-11 mark from three-point land. The senior guard also racked up nine rebounds and four assists. Thomas Brown scored 19 points and handed out six assists, while Pierce Weatherspoon notched a career-high 14 points and nine boards. Kenneth Parker collected his first career double double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. 

Jonathan Brioso carried the team offensively for CSJ (3-3) scoring 22 points while grabbing seven rebounds. Messiah Murphy popped off the bench for 17 points and six rebounds and hit on three-of-five from beyond the arc. Kyle Houston also managed double-digit points, scoring 10 of his 16 points in the first half. 

After opening the game with a three-pointer, the Eagles overcame a tentative start and recaptured the lead at 19-18 when Darius Wynn hit another three-pointer with 9:48 left to play in the opening half. That kick started a 15-2 run capped by yet another three by Rittmon to give the visitors a 31-20 lead. A pair of buckets by Diante Warner late in the first half helped propel the Eagles to a 45-32 lead heading into halftime. 

GMC would extend its advantage to its largest lead of 18 points following a layup by Weatherspoon with 15:58 to go in the game. 

The Fighting Saints managed to whittle the lead down to 61-51 after a layup by Antonio Gordon with 8:57 remaining in the game. The Eagles would not let the hosts get any closer and re-established its 18-point lead after a layup by DeNaugio Scarlett with 5:24 left and then cruised to victory. 

Green Mountain will travel to Amherst to take on the tournament hosts and the D3Hoops.com preseason #1 team in the opener of the Ken Wright '52 Tournament on Friday at 6 p.m. The team will then face either Johnson and Wales or St. Lawrence in Saturday's matchup depending on the outcomes from Friday.