Fresh off their new spot atop the national poll, the Middlebury men's basketball team (6-0) cruised to a 90-46 win over Johnson & Wales (1-5) in Pepin Gym. The Panthers shot a red-hot .581 from the floor in the first half, ending the game with just four turnovers. Middlebury plays its final game of the semester at Skidmore on Friday at 8:00 p.m.

Middlebury came out strong defensively, holding Johnson & Wales to just seven points through the game's first 13:30. The Panthers led 12-2 early, taking a 28-7 lead on a hoop from Nate Bulluck with 7:35 left in the first half. The lead ballooned to over 30 when Dylan Sinnickson hit a pair of free throws with 1:43 left to make it a 45-14 contest. Middlebury entered the intermission with a 51-17 advantage as Joey Kizel knocked down a 25-footer at the buzzer.

The lead continued to grow in the second half, going over 40 points at 73-32 on a three from Ryan Sharry midway through the half.  The Panthers held solid down the stretch, coming away with the 90-46 win.

Sharry, who was making his first appearance of the season, scored a game-high 16 points on 6 of 7 shooting in 17 minutes of action. Joey Kizel added 15 points and five assists, Sinnickson scored 13, while Nolan Thompson netted 11. Jake Wolfin dished out six assists in the game as the Panthers held a 41-28 advantage on the boards.

Donald Williams led the Wildcats with 10, followed by Mike Harris with nine and James Folk with eight.

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