BOX SCORE

In a battle of two of the top three ranked teams in the United States Athletic Association Division II, the ACPHS men's basketball team fell to New Hampshire Technical Institute by a score of 83-70 in the opening round of the NHTI Invitational on Saturday afternoon. NHTI came into the game as the top ranked team in the USCAA, while the Panthers, who fell to 7-2 on the season with the loss, are ranked third.

The opening half went back and forth as the opposing styles of play made for a very even game. The Panthers used their size and strength inside to control the paint, while NHTI came out firing from three-point land. With just over six minutes to play in the half, the Lynx held a 32-26 advantage, but the Panthers responded with a 10-2 run, spurred by two three-point baskets from leading scorer Casey Redfern, to take a 36-34 lead. Redfern scored a game-high 23 points to lead ACPHS, while connecting on five three-point baskets.

As NHTI went into the half with a three point lead (44-41), ACPHS was unable to keep the momentum in the second half, eventually succumbing to the athleticism and quickness of NHTI. Steven Brown (21 points and 11 rebounds) and Ryan McVaigh (16 points and 10 rebounds) both had double-doubles for ACPHS.

In the consolation game on Sunday, the Panthers will take on the University of Maine-Augusta.