HENNIKER, N.H. - New England College Men's Basketball suffered a 67-65 defeat to the Vermont State University-Randolph Knights in a non-conference battle on Wednesday night. 

Both teams scored their first four points from layups before sophomore Josh Robie (Bethlehem, N.H.) opened up the deep game with the game's first made three to give the Pilgrims a 7-6 lead. A 16-11 Knights run gave VTSU-Randolph a 24-18 lead. A nine-point rally from the Pilgrims, led by four points from sophomore Ryan Cuvier (Tewksbury, Mass.) pushed them ahead by three with 3:17 to play in the first half. A late rally from the Knights was answered with a three-pointer from sophomore Luke Montejo (Tewksbury, Mass.) as NEC brought a 30-29 lead into the half. 

The Knights opened the second half with a 10-2 run before two free throws by freshman Charlie Amero (Gloucester, Mass.) set up a three from senior Stravis Lutchman (Palmetto, Fla.) to cut the lead to one. A 15-6 run from VTSU-Randolph put them up by ten halfway through the second half. The 'Grims attempted a major comeback attempt, and finally closed the gap with 17 seconds left in the game as a pair of free throws by Cuvier knotted the game at 65-65. But the comeback would fall just short as Jaden Clark, the Knights' leading scorer on the evening, scored the game-winning basket with just two ticks left on the clock. A last second, hail mary attempt by NEC was unsuccessful as the Knights came away with the two-point win. 

Montejo led the Pilgrims in points (15) and rebounds (8) in the loss. Cuvier finished with 13 and Robie, junior Jasen Stovall (Tampa, Fla.), and junior Michael Hills (Baton Rouge, La.) finished with seven points apiece. 

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