CASTLETON, Vt. (November 7, 2021) - After a 20-month wait, the SUNY Delhi men's basketball team wasted no time getting a win Sunday in a 89-75 season-opening win at Castleton Sunday afternoon. The Broncos converted a modest 47-44 halftime advantage into a consistent second-half production to outpace the host Spartans, along with 20-point showings from Mavenson Therneus and Norman Wilson and a double-double from rookie Nakhi Bishop. Head coach Zack Thomsen's men accomplished more than just a 1-0 start to the season Sunday, but a payoff to their patience, resilience, and training to keep them prepared for their first opportunity back to competition.
Wilson made five of Delhi's ten 3-pointers for a career-high 23 points, while posting five rebounds and four assists. Therneus nearly had a double-double with 21 points and nine rebounds, shooting 10-for-17 from the field with one triple. The 6'11", newly-acquired Bishop flashed ten points and a game-high 13 boards in his Broncos debut. Erhunosere Uwuigbe added 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench, shooting 6-of-7 with one 3-pointer in 12 minutes of play, while rookie Lester McCarthy dropped in ten points, five rebounds, and three assists.
Both sides remained neck-and-neck throughout the first 15 minutes of play. When it appeared Delhi was pulling away late in the half with a 43-34, Castleton closed out the first period on a 10-4 scoring run, capitalized by a buzzer-beating three for a 47-44 Broncos lead at intermission. The key to Delhi's victory was consistency, as in the second half Wilson netted ten points after a 13-point first half and Therneus 11 points after a ten-point opening session. While Bishop was held to just two points in the second half, Uwuigbe stepped up for a 4-for-4 second half, including 1-of-1 from long range ten second-half markers. These playmaking abilities sparked Delhi shooting 47.4 percent in the closing half (18-of-38) and holding the Spartans to 30.0 percent (9-of-30).
The Broncos finished the afternoon with a 46.9 field goal percentage (38-for-81) and 10-of-27 on threes, compared to Castleton's 38.6 (27-of-7) and 9-of-36, respectively. Bishop's rebounding prowess led to a 51-40 Delhi lead in rebounding, along with a 46-28 Broncos advantage in points in the paint.
"It was an unbelievable feeling to be back on the court after such a long time away," said Coach Thomsen. "I was proud of the way our team battled and our older guys (captains) really stepped up in a big way!"
The win marked SUNY Delhi's first victory since its last matchup on Mar. 12, 2020 when the program posted a 70-56 victory over Holy Family in the opening round of the USCAA Tournament, which was subsequently cancelled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Broncos have now won 12 consecutive games that includes their 11 straight victories to close out the 2019-20 season. Six members from that season are back with the Broncos for 2021-22.
The Broncos make their long-awaited return to competition in their home court this Friday, welcoming Mount Saint Vincent for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff. It will mark SUNY Delhi's first home contest since Mar. 1, 2020, a total of 621 days.
