SPARTANS LATE RUN SINKS EXPRESS AT KEN WRIGHT INVITATIONAL

(Amherst, Mass.)─ The Castleton State College Spartans pulled away late in the second half en route to a 66-57 victory over the Wells College Express in the second semi-final round game of the Ken Wright '52 Invitational hosted by Amherst College on Friday evening in Amherst, Mass. Wells was paced by 20 points and 10 rebounds from Terry Harrison, and 18 and 12 from Mabior Mayen. The Spartans were led by 20 points and nine rebounds from Jared Paul, and 14 points from Mike Knight. The loss drops the Express to 0-2 on the season, while the Spartans remain unbeaten at 2-0. 

In the first semifinal of the day, the hosts from Amherst College got a free throw with one second to play in overtime to earn a 90-89 win over Maine-Farmington. Wells (0-2) will play UMF tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the Consolation Game prior to the Amherst-Castleton final.

Wells held a 44-30 advantage in rebounds over Castleton this evening, but the Spartans grabbed 14 steals and caused a total of 27 turnovers by the Express to power the win. Castleton turned those 27 turnovers into 27 points, an amount that proved to be the difference in the game.

The two teams went back and forth through the first half with Wells taking a 27-26 lead with 2:55 to play on a three pointer by Kenny Sharpe. Four Castleton State free throws were the final points of the half, sending the Spartans into the break up 30-27.
 
The Express was able to hang around for over seven minutes of the second half, closing the gap to 43-42 with 12:38 remaining on a Mac Porter triple. Castleton responded with a 9-0 scoring run, capped by four straight points from Mike Knight. The surge put the Spartans up by 10 points with 8:12 to play. The Spartan lead never dipped below eight points the rest of the way as Castleton closed out the win.