PLYMOUTH, N.H. - November 26, 2019 - The Colby-Sawyer men's basketball team erased a 15-point deficit late in the second half, but Plymouth State was able to escape with an 88-83 win on Tuesday evening. 

The Panthers improve to 4-2 and will play at Saint Joseph's (ME) on Dec. 4. Colby-Sawyer drops to 3-2 and will host Rivier on Dec. 3. 

Colby-Sawyer trailed 65-50 with 10:31 to play, but the Chargers turned up the defensive pressure and pulled even at 74-74 with three minutes remaining. The lead changed hands five times over the final few minutes, with senior Joe Simpson (Manchester, N.H.) draining three free throws to give the Panthers a 79-78 lead with 1:14 to play. Colby-Sawyer went back ahead on a driving layup by freshman Scott Lampron (Tilton, N.H.), but junior Devin Cooper (Newfield, N.Y.) answered with an and-one for PSU and clutch free throw shooting kept the Chargers at bay.
 
Lampron started the comeback for the Chargers with an interior bucket and freshman Omar Boone (Colorado City, Texas) squared the game at 74-74 with a three-pointer with three minutes remaining.

Things went back and forth from there. PSU went ahead, but Boone snagged an offensive rebound after splitting a pair of free throws, then buried another triple on the ensuing possession for a 78-76 lead.

Simpson was fouled behind the arc on PSU's next possession, and sank all three free throws, but Lampron answered with a basket on the other end to give Colby-Sawyer an 80-79 lead with under a minute to go.

Cooper was fouled on a drive, hitting both the layup and the ensuing free throw and sophomore Dante Rivera (Methuen, Mass.) went four-of-four at the line to push the margin to 86-80 with nine seconds to go.

Senior Patrick Coffey (Westford, Mass.) nailed a three for the Chargers to cut the deficit in half, but LeRoy sealed the win with another two from the charity stripe as Plymouth State held on for the win.
 
Rivera led all players with 22 points, shooting 9-of-11 from the line, while adding six rebounds, seven assists and five steals for the Panthers. Cooper was 7-of-10 from the floor on the way to 18 points and eight rebounds, while Simpson and sophomore Manny Alisandro (Manchester, N.H.) added 15 points apiece.

Boone led the Chargers with 21 on 8-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-6 from distance, while Coffey added 20 points and seven boards. Lampron chipped in with 15.

Colby-Sawyer owned a 43-37 edge on the glass, but Plymouth State scored 25 points off 19 Chargers' turnovers.

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==Plymouth State==