Courtesy Middlebury Sports Information

CHESTNUT HILL, MA. — The Middlebury men’s basketball team improved to 14-3 overall with an 87-62 win at Pine Manor (7-9) on Sunday afternoon. The 16th-ranked Panthers are off until next Sunday when they visit Trinity for a 2:00 p.m. tip-off.

The visitors jumped out to a 12-2 lead at the 15:36 mark with four points from Hilal Dahleh. Leading 20-17 with 10:38 remaining in the first half, the Panthers went on another run, this time outscoring their opponents 11-0 for a 31-17 advantage with 7:49 on the clock. The lead remained in double digits for much of the remainder of the half, as Middlebury took a 44-31 lead into the break.

The Panthers came out firing in the second session, scoring 14 of the first 16 points, while making their first five shots. When the 14-2 run ended, Middlebury led 60-33 at the 15:12 mark when Jack Farrell knocked down a three-point field goal.

The Gators chipped away at the advantage, coming within 13 (62-49) on a layup from Ellis Reid with 10:05 remaining. Middlebury quickly responded, putting the game away with a 9-0 spurt that left them with a 22-point lead (71-49) with 7:27 left to play. The lead grew to a game-high 29 (83-54) later in the half as the Panthers cruised to the 87-62 victory.

Jack Daly led Middlebury with a game-high 18 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Matt Folger finished with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Farrell scored 11. Nick Tarantino finished the contest with seven points and seven rebounds.

Jon Higgenbotham scored 13 to lead Pine Manor, while Reid added 10.

Middlebury shot 54.5 percent (36-66) from the floor and 57.1 percent (8-14) from three-point range, while holding a 47-29 rebounding advantage.