LYNDON, Vt. - The Bard College men's basketball team, playing in a game for the first time in 623 days, defeated Northern Vermont-Lyndon, 93-85, on the first day of the NVU-Lyndon Tip-Off Classic on Saturday afternoon. It was the debut for new head coach Michael Lenahan.

"This was a great team win," Lenahan said. "We stuck together when things got tough, and that's the hallmark of winning teams."

Bard ran out to a 17-point lead midway through the first half, was up 12 at halftime, then held off the Hornets down the stretch, as the lead to whittled to just one twice in the final few minutes.

"I'm really, really happy for the guys," Lenahan said. "That the first college basketball win for 18 of them, and they earned it with their work over the past few weeks."

Bard had five players score in double figures. Stamatis Koulouris had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds; Azriel Almodovar had 19 points, nine rebounds and six steals in his collegiate debut; Lazaros Panagiotounis had 14 points and five rebounds, and Elliot Harris added 11 points and five rebounds.

The Raptors will play NVU-Johnson for the tournament title on Sunday afternoon at 2.