BENNINGTON, Vt. -- The Southern Vermont men's basketball team placed four players in double figures led by DeShawn Hamlet's game high 23 points as they cruised past visiting MCLA, 102-72, in the season opener for both clubs.

 

Joining Hamlet in double figures were Rayshawn Taylor with 14 points, and Antoine White and Casey Hall each had 10.  Thirteen Mountaineers broke into the scoring column on opening night.

 

MCLA was paced by Khalil Paul's 13 points. Careem Kirksey collected 12 points including three triples, while Paul Maurice ended with 10 points.

 

MCLA led early on 12-11 as both teams showed early season rust shooting the basketball. The Mountaineers used a 16-2 spurt to pull ahead 27-14 and really never be threatened the rest of the way. MCLA never got within single digits and went into halftime down 44-25.

 

Any chance of a Trailblazer comeback was dashed as SVC scored the first seven points out of the locker room grabbing an insurmountable 51-25 lead. MCLA never got closer and SVC ran away from there.

 

Southern Vermont owned a commanding 53-38 edge off the glass and turned the Trailblazers over 21 times. Hamlet snagged 9 caroms almost completing the double double.

 

Dakari Hannah Wornum grabbed a game high 12 boards for MCLA in defeat.

 

The game marked the first for new head coach Anthony Skiffington. His Trailblazers will seek to earn their first win of the season on Sunday when they host Norwich University at 2 p.m.