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Mountaineers hold off Lynx, 82-77

Mountaineers hold off Lynx, 82-77
Posted: Jan 29, 2009

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Southern Vermont College men's basketball team defeated Lesley University 82-77 behind 28 points from freshman Ben Naaktgeboren (Cambridge, N.Y.).  With the loss, the Lynx dropped their record to 3-13 (0-6 NECC) while the Mountaineers improved to 5-11 (2-4 NECC).

Naaktgeboren finished the game 10-of-18 from the floor and 8-of-10 from the free throw line.  The forward was also able to complete the double-double with 11 rebounds. 

Complementing Naaktgeboren's effort were Brett Clatworthy (Argyle, N.Y.) and Jaret Falkowitz (Scotia, N.Y.) who scored 18 and 15 points, respectively.  Clatworthy was a long-range terror 6-of-10 attempts from beyond the three-point line. 

The leading scorer for Lesley was sophomore Jonathan Cruz (Haverhill, Mass.) who scored 15 points.  Cruz also finished the game with three assists and two steals.

Four other Lynx players were in double-figures.  Bryant Itonyo (Medford, Mass.) and Justin Askari (Woodland Hills, Calif.) came off the bench to combine for 26 points.  Itonyo netted 14 points with most of his points coming from beyond the arc, hitting 4-of-6 attempts.  Askari was nearly flawless from the same distance as he scored 12 points via four three-pointers.

Jesus Trejo (Methuen, Mass.) tallied another double-double on the season with 11 points and 22 rebounds.  Matt Grassa (Everett, Mass.) was the final Lynx player with double-digit points with 10.

In a very tight match up, Lesley held a halftime lead but would give it up early in the second half.  Naaktgeboren was fouled on a jumper with 14:29 remaining to tie up the game.  The ensuing made free throw gave the Mountaineers their first lead of the game.  Southern Vermont stretched to their lead to as large as nine points and held on for the win.

Lesley will be back in action on Saturday, January 31 hosting Wheelock College at 7:30 pm.  Southern Vermont travels to Becker College on the same day for a 1:00 pm game.

To learn more about the Lesley University men's basketball team, please visit their website.

Contact:          Rob Palardy
                        Sports Information Director
                        Lesley University
                        617.349.8627 (office)
                        617.349.8640 (fax)
                        rpalardy@lesley.edu