AUBURN - It was almost impossible for two evenly matched teams like Central Maine Community College and Vermont State University Randolph to get ahead in Saturday night's men's basketball game.
The lead switched sides numerous times before the Knights settled the score with a narrow 83-80 victory as the snow fell outside Kirk Hall.

 Both teams turned in strong defensive performances that made it difficult for either team to blow open the game. 

 "Everytime we made a run, we made mistakes," Mustangs coach Dave Gonyea said. "It didn't help us much."

 But Gonyea said there were bright spots on offense that made the longtime coach proud.

 "We played well, still turned the ball over a little too much," he said. "They shot 48 percent (and) we shot 58 percent in the first half. That is pretty good. I can't complain about that. But we just make mistakes at opportune times.

 "So we will figure it out and move forward.  I thought we played hard. I thought we played pretty good defense. I thought Jaylon Calvin was the star of the game … He is a kid that this league should pay attention to because he is good."

 Calvin didn't flinch as he maneuvered his many trips to the basket for an astounding 39 points.

 "I give them credit," Gonyea said. "Jaylon Calvin had 39 points for an outstanding effort. He is probably the best player in the league. He showed it tonight."

 But both Boston Cauldwell and Wyatt Hathaway helped out the Mustang offense with several long-range baskets.

 The biggest lead of the game came when Hathaway topped off the Mustangs' nine-point run and provided CMCC with a 44-35 with 2:48 left in the first half. But the Mustangs' headed into halftime with a 44-43 lead after their nine-point lead disappeared thanks to the Knights' persistence on defense.

 "We had a seven-, eight-point lead in the first half and we just squandered that away," Gonyea said. 

 Central Maine was leading 75-74 before VSU jumped ahead when Calvin stepped to the foul line and nailed down two free-throws to make it an 83-80 game with 3.4 seconds left in the game.

 Hathaway confronted VSU's bothersome defense and made a

gallant effort to fire off a 3-pointer that missed its mark.