Nick Simpson Paces Knights to Win in Season Opener
Senior Nick Simpson established a new VTC single game scoring record by pouring in 44 points to lead Vermont Tech to a 118-59 win over the Yankee Small College Conference’s newest member, Nashua Community College, in the Green Knight’s opening game on November 7. Simpson also had sixteen rebounds. He was one of three Knights to achieve a “double-double” in the lopsided win. Freshman forward NiiAkwei General-Vanderpui had 17 points and 13 rebounds while senior Trent Roleau added 10 points and 14 rebounds. USCAA All American Kevin Carr scored 20 points and racked up 9 steals. Sophomore guard Alex Tyrrell netted 10 points and dished out a game high 7 assists.
The Green Knights went to the foul line an incredible 52 times—and converted 42 times. The contest was close for the first ten minutes. With nine minutes remaining in the first half, the Knights went on a 10-0 run to open up a 14 point lead. Vermont Tech came out fast at the beginning of the second half and stretched the lead to 22 points during the first three second half minutes. The Vermont Tech defense held Nashua to just five field goals in the second half.
“The Nashua team has real potential,” commented Coach John Dyer after the game. “They have decent size, good speed and players that can shoot. Its hard to win when you spot the other team 42 points from the foul line. Their players didn’t adjust to the way the referees were calling the game. We were able to hit 80% of our foul shots and that was the biggest factor in the contest.”
