Middlebury Men’s Basketball Triumphs in Home Opener Against Clark University
Middlebury, VT – In an exciting home opener, the Middlebury men’s basketball team secured a 75-68 victory over Clark University this past Wednesday at Pepin Gymnasium. The Panthers started strong, racing to a 7-2 lead, fueled by five points from Evan Flaks early in the first half.
Despite some challenges, including the Cougars narrowing the gap on a few occasions, Middlebury maintained control of the game. A pivotal moment came at 11:46 when Kuba Cwalina hit a crucial three-pointer, helping the Panthers extend their lead to 24-14. Sam Stevens shone during this stretch, notably boosting the lead to 32-19.
As the half drew to a close, the Panthers held a 10-point advantage at 38-28, thanks to Flaks’ last-minute jumper. Middlebury came out strong in the second half, with Tristian Joseph sinking a three-pointer and David Brennan adding a layup that pushed the lead to 44-28.
Clark University attempted a comeback, led by Kekoa McArdle’s eight points during an 8-0 run, cutting Middlebury’s lead to eight. However, the Panthers consistently answered back, stretching the advantage to 63-48 with another three-pointer by Joseph.
The Cougars surged again, orchestrating a 21-8 run to bring the score to 70-66, highlighted by eight points from Bruce Santilus. Nevertheless, Middlebury sealed the victory by hitting five out of six free throws down the stretch.
Stevens led all scorers with 25 points, while Joseph added 18, including 15 in the second half. Brennan recorded 10 rebounds, marking the 32nd time he has achieved double-digit boards in his career.
The Panthers look to maintain momentum as they continue their three-game homestand, facing Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
Source
Photo credit athletics.middlebury.edu
