PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Plymouth State University men's basketball team defeated Vermont State University Castleton, 64-51, in a Little East Conference (LEC) game at Foley Gymnasium on Wednesday night.
 
Plymouth State held a four-point lead at the half, 27-23, but the Panthers scored the first 12 points of the second half to seize control. PSU pushed the lead to 20, 50-30, midway through the second half and the Panthers would stay ahead by double digits the rest of the way.
 
Plymouth State showed balanced offensive production as eight players got on the scoreline. Sophomore Brady Hulland (Amston, Conn.) led all scorers with 17 points, while junior Eli Pockette (Rutland, Vt.) added 13 points of his own. Freshman Keegan Martinez (Belmont, N.H.) tallied eight points in the winning effort for the Panthers.
 
Plymouth State improves to 7-17 (3-12 LEC), while the Spartans move to 6-18 (1-14 LEC).
 
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 64, VTSU Castleton 51
  • Plymouth State (7-17, 3-12 LEC)
  • VTSU Castleton (6-18, 1-14 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Plymouth State
  • Brady Hulland (17 pts, 7-13 fg, 3-7 3pt, 5 reb, 2 stl)
  • Eli Pockette (13 pts, 4 ast)
  • Keegan Martinez (13 pts, 4 reb, 2 stl)
  • Jordan Gunthrop (7 pts. 3-7 fg)
  • Yansel Reyes (6 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast)

How it Happened:

• In the low-scoring start to the contest, the teams found themselves deadlocked at 11-11 with 9:27 remaining in the first half.
• The Panthers used an 8-2 run to take a 27-20 advantage with 75 seconds to go until halftime.
• Castleton hit from beyond the arc to cut the margin to 27-23 at the break.
• Plymouth State turned up the heat to start the second half, tallying the first 12 points to extend the margin to 39-23 with 15:49 left in regulation.
• The Panthers continued to pour it on, extending to 50-30 lead midway through the second.
• VTSU Castleton put forth a flurry late, using a 12-2 run to pull within 62-51 with two minutes to play.
• Pockette sealed the game with a driving layup to close out the conference win.

By the Numbers:

• Each team brought down 41 rebounds.
• All five lead changes and three ties happened in the first half.
• Bench points went to the Panthers, 21-20.
• VTSU Castleton tallied 24 points in the paint to 20 for PSU.
• Plymouth State is 35-7 against the Spartans and has won each of the last 14 matchups.

   
Up Next:

• Plymouth State closes the season at Eastern Connecticut State on Saturday (Feb. 21) at 1 p.m.

 
 
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