FARMINGTON – Ted Neil (Strong, ME) poured in a career-high 25 points as the University of Maine at Farmington men’s basketball team notched a 71-58 victory over Johnson State College in North Atlantic Conference action tonight in Dearborn Gymnasium.
The Beavers ran their record to 5-8 (3-2 in the NAC) and are scheduled to host Lyndon State College Saturday. The Badgers dropped to 8-5 (2-1).
Pat Howell (Nobleboro, ME) threw in 10 points for the Beavers, while Eric Lelansky (Portland, ME) collected nine points, nine boards and eight assists.
Bobby Shedd (Johnson, VT) powered Johnson State with 21 points and 12 rebounds with John Foley (Valley Stream, NY) adding 14 points.
Neil scored 16 points, including four 3-pointers, in the opening half, but the Badgers bounced back from an early deficit to hold a 28-25 edge with 5:40 until halftime. Farmington outscored the visitors 11-4, heading into intermission with a 39-30 advantage. Neil fittingly closed out the half with a turnaround jumper with seconds remaining.
Shedd was nearly Neil’s equal in the opening frame with 15 of his point total.
The Beavers kept the Badgers at a distance in the second half with Johnson State inching no closer than six points. With less than three minutes to go, Howell hit 3-pointers on back-to-back time-consuming trips down the court as Farmington recorded the 71-58 win.
