CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - The Southern Vermont men's basketball team lost a close game to NECC foe Wheelock College 97-91 Thursday night. The loss came despite a tremendous performance from Brendan Kordana (Adams, MA), who scored a game-high 31 points, including eight three pointers, one of which came from past half court at the buzzer to give Southern Vermont over 90 points on the evening.

The Wildcats led by as many as 25 points with 13:05 remaining in the game, when Sherard Robbins knocked down a jump shot, but the Mountaineers responded with a 15-6 run, sparked by a pair of Kordana triples to claw their way back into the game.

For Southern Vermont, Joe Karnik (Castleton, N.Y.) hit 28 points while teammates Cameron Herrington (Cambridge, N.Y.) and Jaret Falkowicz (Scotia, N.Y.) scored 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Southern Vermont would whittle that lead down to six points with 42 seconds remaining in the game, but the Wildcats hit seven of their last eight free throws to seal the win and hand head coach John Preziosa a trip to the playoffs in the program's second year.

Wheelock used a balanced attack, with five players hitting double digits. Sophomore Dan Main led the Wildcats with 20 points while freshman Max Kaim had a career night, scoring 19 points with a 6-6 performance from the field.

The Mountaineer men, like the women's team, must beat Becker to ensure them a spot in the NECC playoffs. They host the Hawks at 2:00 p.m. this Saturday, February 21, in the SVC Field House.