CASTINE, Maine -- Maine Maritime erased a 28-point second half deficit, but Johnson State converted 4 of 6 from the line in the final 25 seconds, to hang on for an 81-75 win in a North Atlantic Conference men's basketball game Friday. The Badgers improved to 6-16 overall, 3-12 NAC, while the Mariners dropped to 2-20, 1-14.

Jason Hatch scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Maine Maritime. Hatch tied a program record with eight threes in the game. B.J. Dunlap '03 and Dave Pelletier '88 each had eight threes in a game twice and Marc McCorrison '04 and Matt Ketchen '99 accomplished the feat once.

Zachary Radcliffe and Tyler Chiasson each scored 10 points for the Mariners and Kyle Boucher grabbed eight boards.

Asim Khan led JSC with 25 points, Ron Adrian added 22 and Cory Chase finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Bryan Hickey pulled down 11 boards for the Badgers.

After Hatch evened the game at 5-5, on a three with 17:19 left in the opener, Johnson State went on a 12-0 run to lead 17-5 five minutes later. Adrian led the run with four points. The Mariners managed to get within nine, 17-8, on a  Radcliffe trey with 10 minutes left in the first. 

The Badgers took their largest lead, 24-8, on a Hickey jumper with 8:08 on the clock.  The Mariners got as close as seven three times in the final four minutes, the last coming on a Hatch layup with 2:14 left before the break. JSC led 39-29 at halftime.

Johnson State took its largest lead, 66-38, on an Adrian three with 9:35 left in the game. The Badgers led 77-59 with 1:57 left before the Mariners made their final push. 

Chiasson fronted an 11-0 run with four points, Hatch added a three and Boucher, Radcliffe and Brad Reed pumped in two to put Maine Maritime within seven, 77-70, with 32 seconds left. Adrian put JSC ahead 80-72 with a free throw before Radcliffe made it a five point game, 80-75, with a three with 10 seconds on the clock. Lester Alexander scored the final point of the game on a free throw six seconds later.

The Mariners return to action Saturday, 3 p.m., hosting Lyndon State.

JOHNSON ST. 81, MAINE MARITIME 75

JOHNSON ST. (3-12 NAC, 6-16)

Asim Khan 11-13 0-0 25; Ron Adrian 8-18 2-4 22; Cory Chase 8-11 4-4 20; Lester Alexander 1-3 3-4 6; Bryan Hickey 3-6 0-0 6; Greg Davis 1-4 0-0 2; Mason Phillips 0-2 0-0 0; Josh Reed 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 32-60 9-12 81.

MAINE MARITIME (1-14, 2-20 NAC)

Jason Hatch 10-16 0-0 28; Tyler Chiasson 3-9 4-5 10; Zach Radcliffe 4-11 0-0 10; Brad Reed 3-8 0-0 7; Shep Carter 2-7 2-2 6; Kyle Boucher 3-5 0-0 6; Dylan Price 1-11 0-0 3; David Harrison 1-1 0-0 3; Tyler Gilson 1-2 0-0 2; David Breunig 0-1 0-0 0; Anthony Langella 0-0 0-0 0; Brian Goda 0-3 0-0 0; John-Peter Michaud 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-74 6-7 75.

Johnson St.................... 39 42 - 81

Maine Maritime................ 29 46 - 75

3-point goals--Johnson St. 8-17 (Ron Adrian 4-7; Asim Khan 3-3; Lester Alexander 1-3; Greg Davis 0-1; Josh Reed 0-2; Bryan Hickey 0-1), Maine Maritime 13-36 (Jason Hatch 8-13; Zach Radcliffe 2-6; David Harrison 1-1; Brad Reed 1-5; Dylan Price 1-3; Brian Goda 0-2; Kyle Boucher 0-1; Shep Carter 0-2; Tyler Chiasson 0-3). Fouled out--Johnson St.-None, Maine Maritime-None. Rebounds--Johnson St. 39 (Cory Chase 12), Maine Maritime 38 (Kyle Boucher 8; Jason Hatch 8). Assists--Johnson St. 22 (Asim Khan 6), Maine Maritime 21 (Dylan Price 5). Total fouls--Johnson St. 8, Maine Maritime 14. Technical fouls--Johnson St.-None, Maine Maritime-None. A-53