Men's Hoops Stung by Vermont State-Lyndon in Non-Conference Play

LYNDONVILLE, Vt. - The Elms College Men's Basketball traveled to Vermont State University-Lyndon for a non-conference matchup Thursday evening.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 79 | Vermont State University-Lyndon 82
Records: Blazers 0-8, 0-0 (GNAC) | Hornets 3-5, 0-0 (NAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The two sides would kick off the game with a 4-2 score, after layups by junior forward RJ Mayfield (Springfield, Mass.) and junior forward Adam Sarlan (Chicopee, Mass.), with an assist by senior guard/forward Aaron Sanchez (the Bronx, N.Y.). VTSU-Lyndon would tie the game but Mayfield would score on back-to-back shots, scoring a layup and a three-point shot. The Hornets scored on three-straight layup attempts to take the lead,  until the Blazers would score back-to-back layups by graduate forward Neilon Bridgeman (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Sanchez to take back the lead. The two sides would trade the lead, until Elms recorded seven points to take the lead with the help of a three-point play by senior guard Kishaun Cole (Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.), back-to-back steals leading into breakaway layups by junior guard Aden Goffe (New Haven, Conn.) and Bridgeman, and a three-point shot by sophomore guard Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.), assisted by junior center/guard/forward Edgardo Jacob Cancel (Northampton, Mass.). VTSU-Lyndon would fight back to bring the score differential to four points, until Ciaglo made a steal and found an open senior forward/center Addison Phifer (Hadley, Mass.) for a three-point shot. As both offenses could not find the basket, the Blazers defense would hold strong, seeing steals by Cole, Ciaglo, Cancel, and Mayfield. The Hornets would be the first to score after the dry spell, but Elms would break away and Cancel would connect with Mayfield for a slam dunk. VTSU-Lyndon would try to respond offensively, but Mayfield would block a layup. Cole would return to the game and make a layup, a block to keep, and assist on Bridgeman's layup and a three-pointer by Sanchez to keep the Blazers' twelve-point lead, with the help of a layup by Goffe. As halftime approached, Elms would keep their foot on the gas pedal, with Cole scoring an additional five points, a steal by Ciaglo, and successful free throw attempts by Mayfield and Bridgeman to carry their lead into the halftime break, 45-37.

The second half would begin with Sanchez connecting with Ciaglo for a three-point shot, but the Hornets would quickly respond with a layup, but on their next possession, Cole would make a steal and make a layup, followed by another Ciaglo three-pointer, assisted by Sarlan. VTSU-Lyndon would record five points, but Mayfield would make another block for Elms. As the second half continued, the Hornets began their path of controlling the game on both ends of the floor. Ciaglo would make another three-point shot, but VTSU-Lyndon would cut the Blazers lead to three points. Goffe would make two free throw attempts and a steal, followed by two successful free throw attempts by Cole, but Hornets would not buzz away, scoring back-to-back layups to make the score 60-59. The Blazers would see layups by sophomore forward/center Lawton Ackah-Yensu (Cape Coast, Ghana), Mayfield, and Goffe, but VTSU-Lyndon would momentarily take the 69-68, until Sanchez and Phifer made three layups to bring the game to 74-69. The Hornets would not step back, capitalizing on two successful free throw attempts and a layup to bring the game back to within a point. Shortly later, Mayfield would connect with Cole for a three-pointer, but the two sides would go back and forth with layups, until three-point shot by VTSU-Lyndon with 22 seconds along a layup and a pair of free throws with five seconds to go would give the Hornets the lead 81-79. With some time left on the board, the Blazers would try to take back the, with a three-point attempt by Sanchez, but the Hornets would come down with the ball to win the game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Cole - 17 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block.

• Mayfield - 12 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and a steal.

• Ciaglo - 12 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and four assists.

• Sanchez - 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal.

• Goffe - 10 points, four steals, and two rebounds.

• Bridgeman - eight points, a rebound, and a steal.

• Phifer - five points, five rebounds, and a block.

• Sarlan - three rebounds, two points, and an assist.

• Ackah-Yensu - two points and a rebound.

• Cancel - two assists and a steal.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Men's Basketball team will host Purchase State College in a non-conference matchup on Saturday, December 7th at 2 pm to begin a three-game home stand.

--

For continuing coverage of Elms College Athletics, visit www.ecblazers.com and follow the Blazers on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.