VTSU-Johnson Holds Off SUNY Delhi in NAC West Championship, 68-65

DELHI — #2 VTSU-Johnson (11-16) upset top-seeded SUNY Delhi (11-15), 68-65, in the 2025 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Men’s Basketball West Division Championship on Saturday afternoon at Floyd L. Maines Arena. With the victory, the Badgers clinched their first-ever spot in the NAC Championship game, set for next Saturday at 1:00 PM at Husson University, where they will compete for the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

For SUNY Delhi, the loss marks the end of its 2024-25 season.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The first half was tightly contested, with neither team gaining a double-digit lead until the Badgers used a 7-0 surge, capped by a Darone Frierson three-pointer, to build a 30-18 advantage with 4:59 left before halftime. However, Johnson was unable to maintain the momentum, as Delhi responded with a 14-2 run to tie the game at 32-32 with 1:10 remaining. Mohammed Semega knocked down a mid-range jumper 40 seconds later to send the Badgers into the break with a 34-32 edge.

The second half turned into a battle to the finish, with the teams trading the lead 10 times and playing through eight ties. Johnson junior forward Jason Baker knocked down two free throws to give his team a 52-47 lead with 9:53 left, but it marked the last time either side led by more than two points. Just 11 seconds later, Lester McCarthy drilled a three-pointer to bring Delhi back within two at 52-50.

Trailing 63-62 with 2:57 remaining, Eli Wilson gave Johnson the lead with a clutch layup - the Badgers’ final field goal of the game. From there, Johnson held off Delhi at the free-throw line, converting 4-of-6 attempts in the closing minutes to secure the victory.

STAT LEADERS:

VTSU-Johnson:Raymond Baka: 24 points, 14 rebounds

Jason Baker: 21 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks

Eli Wilson: 8 points, 3 rebounds

Matthew Carter: 4 points, 3 steals

Team Stats: 42.3% FG, 1-10 3PT, 23-30 FT, 41-24 rebounding edge

SUNY Delhi:

Lester McCarthy: 21 points, 5-14 3PT

Isiah Barnes: 9 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds

Brennan Heaven: 9 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists

Warren Davis: 9 points, 5 rebounds

Team Stats: 38.1% FG, 7-25 3PT, 10-16 FT, 13 points off turnovers