MBB: Wildcats edge out NVU-Johnson 54-52 in NAC play.

JOHNSON, Vt. - The SUNY Poly men's basketball team beat NVU-Johnson 54-52 on Friday night. Three Wildcats scored in double figures en route to the North Atlantic Conference win. With the win, the Wildcats move to 10-11 on the season and 5-5 in conference play. With the loss, the Badgers move to 8-11 on the season and 3-6 in conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Wildcats would race out to an 8-0 lead and hold the Badgers scoreless until the 14-minute mark, when a Badger's layup would cut the lead to 8-2. After a Badgers run to tie the game, there would be five lead changes in the first half. With 2:34 remaining in the first half, Dylan Ernst would make a lay-up that sparked a 9-0 run to give the Wildcats a 30-22 lead going into halftime. Jesse O'Dell, Cheickne Toure, and Dylan Ernst led the first-half scoring for the Wildcats.

The game of runs would continue as the Badgers would go on an 11-0 run right out of halftime to give the Badgers a 33-30 lead. An LJ Randle answer from three-point range would tie the game on the trip down to the other end of the court. With 6:08 to play in the game, Mitch Kernizan would score a huge basket for the Wildcats to give them a 50-48 lead. The Wildcats would hold on to the lead the rest of the way to hang on for a 54-52 victory. The win tonight avenged an early season loss to NVU-Johnson to help the Wildcats in North Atlantic Conference play.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Jesse O'Dell had the only double-double of the game, recording 11 points and 10 rebounds.

• Maleek View led all scorers with 20 points.

• Cheickne Toure continued his great play scoring 14 points for the Wildcats.

UP NEXT:

The Wildcats will be back in action tomorrow against SUNY Canton for a 3:00 PM tip.

Original source can be found here.