CASTLETON, Vt. - January 12, 2017 - Colby-Sawyer freshman Patrick Coffey (Westford, Mass.) scored a career-high 27 points, but Castleton hung on for a 101-92 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) victory over the Chargers on Thursday evening.

Colby-Sawyer dips to 5-8 overall and 2-4 in the NAC. The Chargers will host Green Mountain on Saturday at 1 p.m. Castleton improves to 10-3 overall and 5-2 in conference play. The Spartans will travel to New England College for a 1 p.m. tip on Saturday. 

Coffey led all players with 27 points and added a game-high 10 rebounds. Sophomore Milani Hicks (Scarborough, Maine) and freshman Dana Bean (Franklin, N.H.) had 14 points apiece. Hicks also grabbed seven rebounds, while Bean was 6-of-9 from the floor. Junior Evyn Nolette (Sanford, Maine) was perfect from beyond the arc making all three attempts for nine points off the bench. Sophomore Jourdain Bell (Manchester, N.H.) contributed 13 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
  
Tondi Mushandu and Chad Copeland had 16 points apiece to lead seven Spartans in double figures. Mushandu added nine rebounds, while Copeland had eight boards, five assists, and two steals. Pavin Parrish tallied 14 points.
 
The home team jumped out to a 14-6 lead in the first four minutes of the game, but Colby-Sawyer scored eight unanswered points to tie the game at 16-16. After Coffey made two free throws midway through the first half to close the Charger deficit to two, the Spartans scored nine straight points to extend their lead back to 11 at 35-24.
 
The Chargers closed to within four points three times late in the first half, but Castleton ended the opening half with a 9-1 scoring run. Evyn Nolette entered the game early in the second half and hit three three-pointers to keep Colby-Sawyer within striking distance, setting up the exciting finish.

Colby-Sawyer's Nate Cook made a pair of free throws to give the Chargers an 81-80 lead with 7:17 to play. After four consecutive free throws from Pavin Parrish, the Chargers retook the lead with a Dana Bean layup, 85-84, with 5:23 left in the second half. Castleton's Damon Burgess then knocked down a trey to give Castleton the lead for good with five minutes left.
 
Colby-Sawyer pulled to within two at 91-89 with 3:10 remaining on a free throw by Bean, but Castleton responded, closing the game with a 10-3 scoring run. The Spartans made their free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

Castleton was 12-of-24 from beyond the arc and shot 56.5% from the floor. Colby-Sawyer had the edge at the free throw line and made 28 of 35 attempts. 

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