January 11, 2023

MBB: Panthers build big lead, hold off Castleton

PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Plymouth State University drilled a season-high 13 three-pointers, including nine in the first half, and the Panthers staved off a second half rally to top Castleton University, 70-58, for their first Little East Conference (LEC) win in men's basketball action at Foley Gymnasium on Wednesday night.

Junior Rylan Canabano (Concord, N.H.) connected for a corner three for the game's first points. The Spartans scored the next six points to take the lead, but a triple by junior Kyler Bosse (Manchester, N.H.) tied the game and Bosse's breakout layup would give the hosts the lead for good.

Plymouth State led by as many as 21 early in the second half, but the Spartans rallied. Castleton used a 19-2 run to pull within 52-48 with 7:41 left to play. That was as close as the visitors would get, though. After a pair of free throws, junior Kyler Bosse (Manchester, N.H.) connected from well beyond the arc to push the lead back to nine and moments later his free throw made it a 10-point game. Plymouth State would maintain a double-digit lead the rest of the way.

PSU improves to 7-8 (1-6 LEC), while the Spartans slip to 3-10 and 0-5 in the LEC.

The Basics:

• Plymouth State 70, Castleton 58
  • Plymouth State (7-8, 1-6 LEC)
  • Castleton (3-10, 0-5 LEC)

How it Happened:

• Canabano connected on a corner three to start the game, but the Spartans answered with a 6-0 spurt.
• Bosse tied the game from deep and his driving layup put the Panthers in front, 8-6, after 5:36.
• Junior Kevin Henry (Stratham, N.H.) hit from distance as the lead grew to double-digits, 17-6, with 12:48 left in the half.
• Plymouth State maintained a comfortable advantage the rest of the half, with senior Giorgi Tsiklauri (Brooklyn, N.Y.) knocking down the team's ninth triple of the frame to make it a 20-point game, 35-15, with just over two minutes in the half.
• A layup from senior Sean Menard (Chichester, N.H.) just before the buzzer gave the hosts a 38-22 lead at the break.
• Canabano's second triple gave PSU its largest lead of the night, 50-29, five minutes into the second half.
• Castleton mounted its comeback bid, relying on a stifling halfcourt defense to whittle the lead down to 54-50 over the next eight minutes.
• Tsiklauri drilled a pair from the charity stripe and after a Castleton miss from close range, Bosse buried a deep three with the shot clock running down to give the Panthers some breathing room.
• Bosse's free throw with four minutes left restored the double-digit advantage and the Panthers were not threatened again.

By the Numbers:

• Bosse poured in a game-high 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-7 from distance. He added 11 boards for his second double-double of the season.
• Tsiklauri snagged a career-best ten rebounds to post his first collegiate double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds), while Canabano netted a career-high 12 points.
• Henry chipped in with eight points, seven rebounds and two steals.
• Plymouth State finished 13-of-35 (37.1%) from deep and hit 24-of-61 (39.3%) field goal attempts for the game.
• The Spartans went 19-of-56 (33.9%) overall but connected on just 3-of-19 (15.8%) from distance.
• Plymouth State held a 46-31 advantage on the boards, including a 14-7 edge on the offensive glass.
• PSU improves to 28-7 in the all-time series going back to the 1991-92 season and has won each of the last seven meetings between the two teams.

Up Next:

• The Panthers travel to Rhode Island College for another LEC matchup on Saturday (Jan. 14). Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m.

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