Following a tough loss against first-seeded Husson Friday night, the Lyndon men’s basketball team caused an uproar Saturday for their senior game. In their third conference win, the Hornets upset the Eagles in a 111-80 win. Lyndon improved to 6-13 on the season, their conference record improving to 3-6.
It was senior Luke Fredsell (#3) who scored the first points of the game within one minute of gameplay. His three-point jump shot would be the momentum that the Hornets would quickly follow suit on, maintaining a lead throughout the rest of the game.
Junior Antonio Carlisle (#1) and Senior Zach Falkenburg (#4) scored back-to-back three-pointers later in the first half, giving the Hornets an eight-point lead over the visiting Eagles, 17-9. Carlisle would continue a scoring spree around the 13-minute mark, making a layup, free throw, and three-point one after the other, bringing the Hornets to 23-11 over Husson.
Husson would score the final points of the half, bringing the score to 51-37 before halftime. But Lyndon maintained a tight defense that carried into the second half.
Fredsell would make four of the first seven shots of the game, two of the shots being three-point jump shots. His free throw would bring the Hornets to a 60-43 lead.
Carlisle continued to score through the second half, totaling 36-points over the whole game. The final seven minutes of the match were spent on free throws. Husson once again was the only team to score in the last two minutes, but their efforts were not enough to close the 31-point gap.
Falkenburg led with 11 assists during the game. “I feel like this was our first game where we played a complete 40 minutes,” he told The Critic. This game was his favorite over his collegiate career, but he added that might change should the team go into the North Atlantic Conference playoffs.
Reflecting on his basketball career, Fredsell agreed, saying, “Senior day was the best basketball experience I’ve ever had in my entire life of playing… Coach Pasiak gave me the opportunity to come here and play college basketball, and he’s given me nothing but great memories here.”
This win was the Hornets’ only score to break 100 this season.
The men’s basketball team returns to the court tonight at 6:30 PM in the Stannard Gym for a conference game against SUNY Delhi.
Feature Photo by Alexandra Huff || Antonio Carlisle (#1) drives up the court.