The Middlebury men's basketball team opened its season in thrilling fashion, edging the University of Saint Joseph on the road by a score of 64-63. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Sam Stevens got things going from the jump, putting the Panthers on the board with a shot from beyond the arc with one minute expired.
• Blue Jay Jakari Tertulien converted a pair from the stripe to give the hosts a 4-3 edge. USJ's lead swelled to as many as eight (15-7) capped by a layup from Tahmeen Dupree at the 14:05 mark. 
• The Panthers battled back, cutting the deficit to one (23-22) on a pair of free throws from David Brennan with 5:59 left in the opening half.
• The Blue Jays would not relinquish the lead, trading the next seven baskets with Middlebury to maintain a three-point edge (31-28) with 3:15 to go.
• Neither team scored again until there were just 22 ticks left in the half. St. Joseph (Conn.)  extended the lead to 33-28, but Stevens had the final word with a layup with five seconds left to bring the gap to three (33-30) heading into the break.
• Knotted at 39 points apiece, USJ had a quick 5-0 burst, sparked by a three-pointer from Lence Altenor, for a 44-39 advantage at the 13:55 mark.
• The Panthers answered with a five-point run of their own on a jumper from Edward Witherington and a three by Kuba Cwalina to knot the contest at 44-44.
• The teams went back-and-forth with neither able to gain a sizable lead before a 7-2 run by the Blue Jays turned a one-point advantage into a 58-52 lead that finished with  a layup by Friedrich Feldrappe with 5:44 left in regulation.
• Middlebury slowly chipped away at the deficit over the next 4:33 of action, taking a 62-60 lead on a shot from beyond the arc by Cwalina.
• An old-fashioned three-point play from Tertulien gave the hosts a 63-62 lead with 1:03 showing on the clock.
• On the ensuing trip down the floor, Stevens gave the Panthers the lead for good (64-63) on a layup with 33 ticks remaining.
• USJ held for the final shot before Altenor drew a foul. He missed both free throws but the Blue Jays gained possession on the rebound and called a timeout.
• A three-point attempt by Cummings rimmed out and a tip-in bid by Tyshawn Jackson just before the buzzer fell off the rim, giving Middlebury the thrilling 64-63 triumph.

NOTES

• Stevens tied his career-high with 28 points on 13-of-21 shooting to go along with five rebounds.
• Mark Newell pulled down a career-best eight boards, while Brennan added nine caroms.
• Middlebury outrebounded USJ 45-29 in the contest.

The Panthers return to action on Wednesday when they host Clark for a 5:00 p.m. tipoff.