CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Southern Vermont College men's basketball team fell in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action Tuesday night 92-67 at Elms College.
The Blazers, who defeated SVC 64-62 back on December 4th, recorded 41 points off Mountaineer turnovers. EC senior guard Andre French (Torrington, Conn.) led all players with a season-high 27 points while Southern Vermont senior captain Taeshon Johnson (Charlotte, N.C.) notched a team-high 22 in the effort; Johnson also had a double-double with a game-high 12 rebounds.
Four Elms players reached double-digits including freshman guard Jerry Buchanon (Windsor, Conn.) who netted 16 off the bench. The Mountaineers held a slight 45-42 advantage on the boards.
Southern Vermont converted on its first two trips down the floor to take an early lead, but a French 3-pointer cut the Mountaineers advantage to 4-3. Following a jumper from SVC sophomore captain Travis Severs (Bennington, Vt.), French drove to the basket and made the layup while getting fouled; he would sink the free throw to tie the score at six apiece.
French gave Elms the go-ahead when he knocked down a 3-ball after a Mountaineer turnover during a 10-0 Blazer run which put them ahead 13-6. Southern Vermont kept trying to climb back but was unsuccessful from deep. A layup from Elms sophomore forward Kenneth Lockett (Atlanta, Ga.) ensued with an SVC timeout with 13:57 remaining in the first and the Blazers ahead 18-8.
Severs came right out of the stoppage to hit another jumper and a pair of layups from Mountaineer sophomore captain Jermaine Campbell (Bridgeport, Conn.) cut the EC lead to 21-16. A 3-pointer by SVC sophomore Tyler Hess (Southwick, Mass.) following an Elms free throw moved the Mountaineers to within three.
However, the Mountaineers found themselves in early foul trouble as Elms had picked up the bonus with 9:08 to play in the first. The fourth and-one play for the Blazers in the opening stanza helped stretch their lead back out to 27-19, but a Severs three and layup from Hess off a Campbell steal brought it to within three once more.
Johnson converted on a pair of free throws after another French three, but a 6-0 run by Elms brought the lead back to 10, an advantage which would hold at halftime as the Blazers went into the break ahead 45-35. French had 17 in the first period.
Mountaineer sophomore Tarvaris Jenkins (Chicago, Ill.) came out and hit one from deep in the opening possession of the second half as Southern Vermont continued to battle. However, Elms was able to respond to SVC baskets and keep its distance.
Severs hit a three with 16:47 to play as the Blazers stood in front 53-45. Shortly after, a 20-1 Elms run over a six-minute span put the Blazers up 75-49, and they would continue to take advantage of Mountaineer turnovers to finish with the 92-67 victory.
Campbell dropped nine and grabbed 10 rebounds as Severs finished with 16 points. Johnson and Jenkins each had four assists with Jenkins adding three steals and seven points. Hess had five points and six boards off the bench.
Lockett saw the night end with 13 points and five rebounds while senior forward Jamaal Hulum (Norfolk, Va.) clipped a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards for the Blazers. French included five steals and four assists to his line.
The Mountaineers (1-21 overall, 1-12 NECC) will next host Becker College for Senior Night on Thursday at 6 p.m. Elms (14-8 overall, 12-1 NECC) is back at it Saturday with a 12 p.m. game at Wheelock College.