LYNDON CENTER, Vt. - The Johnson State College men's basketball team fell short at Lyndon State College on Saturday experiencing a 82-78 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) road loss. The Badgers finish their fall semester schedule with a 3-6 overall record, 1-2 in the NAC. Lyndon improves to 3-2 and remain unbeaten in NAC play with a 3-0 record.
Johnson placed five players in double-figures led by senior point guard Andy Bousono (Philadelphia, Penn./Nueva Esperanza) and his 19-point, five-assist effort. Senior Cody Camisa (Colchester, Vt./Colchester) (pictured) scored 14 of his 17 points in the first half and snatched 10 rebounds in the game for the his first double-double of the season. Junior Bryan Hickey (Barre, Vt./Spaulding) had his fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 boards, sophomore guard Asim Khan (Torrance, Calif./Torrance) had 11 points, five rebounds, and two steals and freshman guard Austin Robinson (Burlington, Vt./Rice Memorial) scored 10 points.
Lyndon also showed fine offensive balance with five players in double figures paced by sophomore guard Howard Lyles (Washington, D.C./Jericho Christian) and his 19 points on 9-13 shooting. Seniors Jason Gray (East Thetford, Vt./Thetford) and Jose Fortunato (Boston, Mass./Melrose) each had 12 points and nine rebounds, sophomore guard Devyn Baranauskas (Waterbury, Conn./Wilby) had a dozen, and freshman forward David Lorden (Pepperell, Mass./North Middlesex) also scored 12.
The Badgers ran out to a quick 10-point lead at 18-8 5:14 into the contest as JSC connected on eight of their first nine shots and Camisa accounting for seven quick points.
Johnson would hold the lead for the entire half and take a 43-39 advantage into halftime as Camisa and Hickey would shoot a combined 10-15 from the floor and account for 24 points.
Lyndon would grab their first lead of the day with 16:13 left to play on a Lorden offensive rebound and stick back making the score 47-46. A basket and two free throw's from JSC's Khan gave Johnson a 50-47 advantage setting the stage for the pivotal Lyndon run.
A 14-2 LSC surge, with six more points coming from Lorden, gave the Hornets a 61-52 lead with 11:38 remaining. Lyndon would extend the lead to 11 points with 5:31 left to go but Johnson would have one more push in them.
A 3-pointer by Bousono cut the lead to five at 81-76 with 1:07 left to play and then earn a stop courtesy a blocked shot by Camisa but a turnover the outlet pass with :43 and subsequent foul all but sealed the victory for Lyndon.
Johnson will now focus on final exams and not play again until January 4 at home when they face the University of Maine-Farmington at 7:30 pm. Lyndon will move on to play at Westfield State University on Wednesday, December 12 at 7:00 pm.