HENNIKER, N.H. – Johnson State College men's basketball team topped the New England College Pilgrims 82-77 Thursday evening in a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) contest. The win sees the Badgers improve to 7-10 overall and 5-6 in the NAC while the Pilgrims drop to 1-16 on the season and 1-9 in NAC play.

Freshman guard Asim Khan (Torrance, Calif./Torrance) shot a perfect 8-for-8 from the field, earning a team-high 22 points, five assists and four rebounds. Junior Bryan Hickey (Barre, Vt./Spaulding) recorded his eighth double-double of the season contributing 12 points and snagging a game-high 11 rebounds.  Johnson's Ron Adrian (Schenectady, N.Y./Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons) notched 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting while teammate Cody Camisa (Colchester, Vt./Colchester) chipped in 10 points towards the Badgers' win.

For the Pilgrims, Abdirahman Mohamed (Biddeford, Maine) scored a game high 24 points while NEC's Dezron Wilson (Hartford, Conn.) tallied 13 points and Jeremiah Johnson (Huntsville, Utah) contributed 10 points on the evening.

Johnson opened the game with a 10-point lead up 20-10 with 11:29 left in the half.  The Badgers held the lead throughout the first half but saw the Pilgrims get within seven points late in the half. With 0:28 left in the opening half, Johnson would sank a layup in their final possession going up 32-23 before heading into the locker room. 

Johnson shot an impressive 73% from the field to hold the lead in the second half. With 7:29 remaining, the Badgers worked their lead to 23 putting the visitors up 67-44.  NEC battled back with a 23-8 run cutting the lead to 75-67 with just over two minutes on the clock.  Despite the rally, Johnson State held strong hitting two foul shots late solidifying the 82-77 victory.

Johnson will prepare for a home game this Saturday, Jan. 26 when they take on NAC foe Colby-Sawyer College. NEC will return to action Saturday, as well traveling to NAC conference opponent Lyndon State College.