JOHNSON, Vt.- The Northern Vermont-Johnson men's basketball team dropped their first conference game of the season against Maine Maritime Academy by a score of 78-57.
The Badgers (0-6, 0-1) were led offensively by a big day from Robert Dubose (Philadelphia, PA), as the sophomore guard dropped 23 points while shooting 11-18 from the field, while Tyrese Smith (Tamarac, FL) contributed a career high 14 points.
Maine Maritime Academy had four players reach double digits in scoring. Adam Richardson led the way for the Mariners scoring 8 of his 11 attempts and had a team best 22 points. Back to back three-point field goals by Nicholas Depatsy and a layup by Richardson gave the Mariners an early 8-0 lead.
Donell Shaw (Washington, DC) continued to be aggressive and contribute on both ends for the Badgers. After the Mariners quick start, Shaw contributed a layup and Dubose contributed a three pointer to bring the Badgers within six. Both teams continued to trade blows throughout the first half but the Badgers struggled to get stops. The Mariners took a healthy 14 point lead going into the second half with the score being 38-24.
In the start of the second half Dubose came out and hit a face up jump shot to bring the Badgers within 12. After two stops and a layup make by Dubose the Badgers were within 10 points. Donell Shaw got a stop of his own that converted into two points on the offensive end bringing the Badgers within 8. The Mariners quickly called a timeout to regroup.
For the remainder of the half the Mariners had control going on a run of their own. The Mariners extended their lead in the next five minutes of the game getting countless stops and quickly jumped up by a score of 52-32. The Badgers struggled to find an answer and eventually lost by a score of 78-57.
The Mariners shot 48.1% from the field and 47.8% from behind the arc while holding the Badgers to 36.2% from the field and 26.9% from behind the arc. The Mariners also collected 16 more rebounds than the Badgers.
The Badgers fall to 0-1 in the NAC and will face Husson University tomorrow at 1:00pm.