Courtesy Middlebury Sports Information

SPRINGFIELD, MA. — Middlebury powered its way to a 91-80 victory over Colby-Sawyer in the Hampton Inn/West Springfield Naismith Classic on Friday afternoon in Springfield College’s Blake Arena. The fourth-ranked Panthers improved to 11-0 on the season and will face Springfield at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday in the title game. Colby-Sawyer slipped to 5-4 and will take on Bridgewater State in the consolation contest at 1:00 p.m.

Trailing 7-5 early, Middlebury went on a 20-6 run, holding a 27-13 advantage at the 11:35 mark. Jack Farrell scored twice, while a three from Perry DeLorenzo capped the run. Colby-Sawyer cut the margin to six (31-25), before the Panthers later had a 9-0 out-burst to hold a 44-29 lead at the 2:55 mark. Griffin Kornaker had a two and a three during the stretch.

Leading 47-38 at the break, the lead grew to 64-47 on a hoop from Tommy Eastman with 13:52 to go. The Chargers cut the advantage to a dozen, but Middlebury went on a quick 8-0 burst at the 9:29 mark to put the game out of reach, cruising to the 91-80 final.

Five players scored in double figures for each team, with Farrell netting a game-high 18 points. Matt Folger (15th career double-double)added 11 points, 10 boards, five steals, and four assists for the victors, who shot 36-78 (.462) from the floor and outscored the Chargers in the paint, 44-22. Alex Sobel finished with 14 points and eight boards, Kornaker scored 13 with four assists, while DeLorenzo netted a dozen on four from long range.

For Colby-Sawyer, Dana Bean netted 13 points and hauled in nine boards, while Jake Lorman handed out five assists to go along with 11 points and five boards. The Chargers were hampered by 20 turnovers in the setback.

Middlebury had now scored 80 or more points seven times this season, surpassing the 90-point mark for the third time.