Badgers Pick-Up Conference Victory Over Mariners

Badgers Pick-Up Conference Victory Over Mariners
Maine Maritime Academy men's basketball fell to Johnson State, 90-73, on Saturday afternoon in North Atlantic Conference action at Carter Gymnasium.

The Badgers put together a nine-point run to jump out to a 26-16 lead midway through the first half, but the Mariners fought back, outscoring Johnson 7-2 to enter the intermission down by just six points, 39-33.

Tyler Thayer  sank a jump shot to open up the second half, closing Johnson's lead to 39-35. The Badgers went on an 11-2 run to take a 15-point lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game.

MMA hit a three to make it 60-48, but the Badgers answered back with 10-straight points, led by eight points from Benjamin Holl to take a 69-48 lead. Dylan Stevens made three-straight baskets with four minutes remaining to make it 76-62, but the Badgers hung on for the win.

Thayer led the Mariners with 19 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two assists, while Stevens ended the afternoon with 15 points, five rebounds and two assists and Dylan Price added 14 points and five rebounds. Tyler Gilson contributed 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

Asim Khan led Johnson State with 19 points, three assists and two rebounds, Rasul Jackson had 18 points, three assists, one rebound, one steal and a block and Holl added 15 points, including going 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, eight rebounds, six assists, three steals and a block. Rahim Bunch tallied a double-double with 12 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks and Demetrius Slade tallied a double-double of 11 rebounds, 10 points, three blocks, two assists and a steal.

The Mariners fall to 3-10 on the season and 2-5 in NAC play, while the Badgers improve to 3-12 overall and 3-5 in the conference. Maine Maritime will host Colby College on Tuesday night at 7:00 pm for a non-conference matchup. Johnson State will travel to NEC for a mid-week NAC game on Tuesday for a 7:30pm tip.