Boston, MA - The Fisher College men's basketball team improves to 17-5 with a victory over non-conference opponent Vermont Technical College (6-14) by a score of 65-57.

The game began a little slow for both teams, but the Falcons went on a six-point run to give them a 6-0 lead over the Knights. Tyler Shular (Norwalk, CT) then hit a three-pointer to put the Falcons up 9-0. Jamal Hughes of Vermont Tech then netted a three to bring the score to 9-3. With 14:02 left in the half, the Falcons called a timeout while holding an 11-8 lead over the Knights. Ira Haywood (Las Vegas, NV) then hit two free throws to put the Falcons up 13-8, but not before the Knights were able to come within two points, 13-11. 

Geodice Ortiz (Denver, CO) changed the momentum of the game when he stole the ball from the opponents and led Haywood to the basket for another two points, 17-13 Fisher lead. Kyle Holmes (Hamden, CT) netted a shot from behind the arc to give the Falcons a seven-point lead, 20-13. Knight Jack Griffiths then hit a three to bring the score to 20-16. Fisher forced Vermont Tech to turn over the ball twice and capitalize on it, making the score 24-16. Vermont Tech netted a layup, shortening the Falcons' lead to 24-18. OJ Moore (Houston, TX) then jumped through two defenders to net another Falcon shot, giving them a 26-18 lead with 4:09 left in the first half. 

Another Knight turnover resulted in Moore stepping to the line for two shots for the Falcons, making both to change the score to 28-18. The Knights capitalized on their next possession to bring their score to 20, but the Falcons held on to a 28-20 lead. With just under two minutes to play in the first half, Shular netted another three to put the Falcons up 31-22. With time expiring on the clock for the first half, the Falcons held a 34-29 lead.

Hughes led the Knights with 11 points while grabbing four rebounds. Other key Knights were Joe Chevalier (six points, three rebounds) and Logan White (five points, one rebound).

Moore led the way for the Falcons with eight points and five rebounds in the half. Shular was another key player in the first half, scoring six points with two rebounds. Ortiz and Holmes were also key players with five points apiece.

The Knights came out of the break with determination, cutting the Falcon lead to two with a three-point shot, 34-32 in favor of the Falcons. The Falcons went on a 6-2 run to take a 40-34 lead. Fisher's lead was cut to three when White hit a three-pointer to change the score to 40-37. Aaron Penn (Winter Springs, FL) then netted a three to put the Falcons back up by six, 43-37. Knight players hit two shots before Fisher hit another shot, making the score 47-41. 

Jonas Rusom (Hasselby, Sweden) hit a three-pointer to put the Falcons up by nine, 50-41. Hughes went for a layup, but Rusom bumped him to send him to the free throw line, hitting both shots to make the score 50-43. Rusom then took the reins to lead the Falcons on 7-0 run to put the team up 57-43. Hughes netted another Knight basket while getting fouled to bring the score to 57-50 in favor of the Falcons with just under five minutes left to play. Griffiths hit a shot from far behind the arc to cut the Falcons lead to four with less than four minutes left to play, 59-55. Both teams fought hard to the finish, but the Falcons held onto the lead and come out on top with a 65-57 victory.

Hughes dominated the court for the Knights, scoring 22 points on the night while grabbing six rebounds. White was another key player with 11 points and also grabbing six rebounds.  Chevalier (eight points, three rebounds), Griffiths (six points), and Nick Ryan (four points, 10 rebounds) were other key players for the Knights.

Shular and Haywood led the Falcons on the court with 11 points apiece; Haywood had five rebounds and Shular had four. Ortiz was another key player for the Falcons with nine points and eight rebounds. Moore and Rusom helped the Falcons to their victory, both scoring eight points on the evening. 

The Falcons return to action on Saturday, January 31, when they play host to the University of Maine Presque Isle at the Fecteau-Leary Gymnasium in Lynn, MA at 2:00 pm.