The Middlebury men's basketball team knocked down a program-record 21 three-point field goals, pulling away in the second half for a 97-70 win over Vermont State University Johnson. Tuesday's contest marked the final non-conference game of the regular season for the Panthers.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Middlebury jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead on three-point shots from Edward Witherington and Evan Flaks with 2:22 expired in the first half.
• The Badgers rattled off a 9-3 run over the next three minutes, capped by a jumper from Jason Baker for an 11-9 edge.
• The Panthers answered with a 16-3 spurt covering 3:31 of action, grabbing their largest lead of the stanza (25-14) on a shot from beyond the arc by Sawyer Ramey with 11:18 on the clock.
• VTSU Johnson whittled the deficit down to five (45-40) on a free throw with 31 seconds left by Matthew Carter before a buzzer-beating three from Oliver Urena gave Middlebury an eight-point halftime cushion.
• Following the break, the Badgers pulled within four (52-48) at the 16:04 mark on a layup from Baker.
• A three-point make from Tristan Joseph and a bucket by Witherington pushed the Panther advantage back to nine (57-48) a minute later.
• Middlebury maintained a near double-digit lead for the next eight minutes until VTSU Johnson moved within nine (72-63) with 6:45 remaining on a pair of charity tosses from Baker.
• The Panthers outscored the hosts 25-8 over the final minutes, highlighted by six points apiece from Ramey, Sam Stevens and Maxwell Alberts to ease to the 97-70 triumph.

NOTES

• Joseph led all scorers with 22 points, including six threes.
• Ramey posted career-best totals of 14 points and went a perfect 4-of-4 from beyond the arc alongside five rebounds and six helpers off the bench in just 20 minutes.
• Flaks dished out a career-high eight assists.
• Alberts converted on a trio of shots from deep, giving him a career-best nine points.
• The 21 made threes surpasses the previous single-game mark of 18 against Norwich on February 8, 1999.
• Middlebury's 97 points are the most scored in a game since a 99-96 double-overtime triumph on November 19, 2021.
• The Panthers' 30 helpers are the second most by the squad this season.
• The programs met for the 25th time with Middlebury winning each contest.

The Panthers return to NESCAC action on Friday when they host Bowdoin at 7:00 p.m.