Middlebury connected on 11 of 17 (.647) from three-point range on its way to a 96-60 win over Southern Vermont (0-4) in their home-opener in Pepin Gym. The fourth-ranked Panthers (5-0) saw Peter Lynch and Jack Roberts combine to score 39 points on 18-21 shooting from the floor in the win. Middlebury returns to action on Sunday, when they visit Johnson & Wales.

Middlebury jumped out to a 17-6 lead in the first 7:02, behind a bucket and a three-point play from Lynch. The run extended into a 28-8 lead with 9:25 remaining, with the Panthers eventually taking a 31-11 lead on a hoop from Jack Roberts with 8:04 left in the first half. Southern Vermont responded with an 11-2 run behind six from Jermaine Campbell and five from Taeshon Johnson to make it a 35-32 game at the 5:49 mark. Middlebury closed the half with 19 of the final 24 points to take a 54-27 lead into the intermission. Lynch paced Middlebury with 17 points on 7-9 shooting in the first half.

An early second half bucket pushed the lead over 30 where it stayed there for the remainder of the contest. Lynch finished with 21 points to lead the Panthers to go along with four assists, while Roberts scored 18 on 9-10 shooting with four blocked shots. Hunter Merryman added 11 points in the win, with eight from Joey Kizel.

Johnson scored a game-high 24 points for the Mountaineers, followed by 15 from Campbell.

Box Score