CASTINE, MAINE -- Maine Maritime Academy sank 4 of 6 free throws in the final 1:04 of the game to beat Green Mountain 73-67 in a North Atlantic Conference men's basketball game Friday. The Mariners improved to 2-4 overall, 2-0 NAC while the Eagles fell to 1-7, 0-3.

Ben Russell led all scores with 23 points for MMA. Paul Campbell netted 13 and Andy Ball added 12 for the Mariners. Elijah Wiggins led the Eagles with 16 points, Haneed Scott scored 14 and Carnelius Green added 11.

Even at halftime, 37-37, MMA opened the second half with a 13-2 scoring run to lead 54-41 with 14:32 left in the game. Russell started the run with a layup and Logan Poirier ended it with a jumper. The Eagles answered with a 15-5 run, spanning nearly six minutes to close the gap to three, 59-56 with a 8:46 left in the game. Scott sparked the GM run with a jumper and capped it with a free throw.

The Mariners extended their lead, 67-58, with three straight free throws by Ball with 4:46 left. A layup from Carnelius Green at 1:10 got the Eagles within two, 69-67, before MMA iced the game by converting 4 of 6 free throws in the final 1:04.

An explosive start by the Mariners put them ahead 7-0 three minutes into the game. MMA took a 13 point lead, 17-4, at the 15:05 mark with a pair of treys from Russell, and a bucket each by Campbell and Ball.

The Eagles slowly chipped away at the Mariners lead beginning at the 12:03 mark when Scott scored on a jumper. Terry Jones' layup at 7:02 capped a 14-7 scoring run by Green Mountain and put the Eagles within four, 28-24. Tyler Chiasson put MMA ahead 37-33, with 2:29 left in the opener, before scores from Scott and Terry Jones evened the game at 37-37 at halftime.

The Mariners return to the court Saturday hosting Castleton at 3 p.m.

MAINE MARITIME 73, GREEN MOUNTAIN 67

GREEN MOUNTAIN (1-7, 0-3 NAC)

Elijah Wiggins 7-12 2-4 16; Haneef Scott 6-7 1-2 14; Carnelius Green 5-16 1-2 11; Terry Jones 3-7 2-2 9; Billy Brink 2-4 1-2 5; Jakerion Ales 2-6 0-0 5; Jeremiah Aponte 1-1 0-0 3; Alex Homkey 1-1 0-0 2; Chris Strong 0-2 2-2 2; Cardell Speights 0-0 0-0 0; Peiton Woodall 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 27-58 9-14 67.

MAINE MARITIME (2-4, 2-0 NAC)

Ben Russell 9-10 0-1 23; Paul Campbell 5-12 3-4 13; Andy Ball 4-17 4-8 12; Tyler Chiasson 4-9 1-1 9; Logan Poirier 4-7 0-0 8; Jason Hatch 1-4 0-0 3; Caleb MacDonald 1-3 1-2 3; Shawn Silva 0-3 2-2 2; Brad Reed 0-0 0-0 0; Nick Holt 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-65 11-18 73.

Green Mountain................   37   30  -   67

Maine Maritime................   37   36  -   73

3-point goals--Green Mountain 4-12 (Jakerion Ales 1-2; Haneef Scott 1-2; Terry Jones 1-4; Jeremiah Aponte 1-1; Peiton Woodall 0-2; Carnelius Green 0-1), Maine Maritime 6-11 (Ben Russell 5-5; Jason Hatch 1-3; Tyler Chiasson 0-1; Paul Campbell 0-2). Fouled out--Green Mountain-None, Maine Maritime-Shawn Silva. Rebounds--Green Mountain 45 (Elijah Wiggins 11), Maine Maritime 30 (Andy Ball 8). Assists--Green Mountain 8 (Carnelius Green 3; Elijah Wiggins 3), Maine Maritime 7 (Tyler Chiasson 3). Total fouls--Green Mountain 13, Maine Maritime 14. Technical fouls--Green Mountain-None, Maine Maritime-None.