The Northern Vermont University-Johnson men’s basketball team fell to the University of Maine Presque Isle Owls at home on Feb. 9, by a score of 76-75.

It was Senior Day, as Co-Captains Vernon Slater (Washington, D.C.) and Donell Shaw (Washington, D.C) were honored before the game for their contributions during their career at NVU-Johnson.
To start the game, the Badgers started off hot from behind the arc, with three of the four made shots being three pointers. The Owls eventually found their rhythm, tying the game 16-16 with 10 minutes to go in the half. The teams played close until the Badgers went on a 11-3 run to end the half with a 43-29 lead.

The Badgers maintained their double-digit lead early on in the second half but slowly the Owls were able to cut the deficit to under five with 12 minutes to go in the contest. The Badgers scored consecutive baskets and extended the lead to 13 points, but the Owls kept battling back and eventually tying the game 67-67 with four minutes to play. Each team traded a basket until Owl Griffin Guerrette scored a three-point basket with 2:36 to play. Badger Robert Dubose responded with two consecutive layups to take the lead. As time ran down, Badger Winston Jones (Los Angeles, CA) fouled Guerrette with under a minute to go, leading to two made three throws. The Badgers took the lead on a fast break layup made by Haji Haji (Burlington, Vt.), to take the one-point lead. With under 30 seconds to play, Owl Te’von Hines hit a layup to take the lead by one forcing the Badgers to call a timeout.

After the timeout, Dubose tried to score a late layup with under five seconds left but was denied by a big block from Jahvion Lockridge. The Badgers intentionally fouled with three seconds left, sending Hines to the free throw line, missing both. The Badgers tried to win the game at the buzzer with Slater taking the potential game-winning three-point shot, but went wide and didn’t go in, giving the Owls the win.
Dubose lead the way with 21 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Shaw played a complete game with 11 points 16 points, five assists, seven rebounds, and five steals. Tyhee Taylor (Philadelpia, PA) and Jones scored nine points each. Haji came off the bench and scored seven points.

The Owls top performers were Guerrette and Shyquinn Dix with 21 and 17 points. Wilburn Griffiths scored 10; Hines and Lockridge came off the bench and scored 12 and nine.

The Owls shot 46.8 percent from the field, 30.8 percent from the three-point line, and 66.7 percent from the charity stripe.

The Badgers fell just below their field and free throw percentage, shooting 45.6 percent and 55.6 percent, but shot better from three, shooting 33.3 percent. The Badgers were outrebounded 43 to 32, but they did better in turnovers, recording 13 to their 17.