BETHLEHEM, Pa. - In a game that may have been a little tighter than fans expected, the 8th ranked Northampton men's basketball team led for 39 of 40 minutes in downing Thaddeus Stevens College, 75-70, on Tuesday evening at the Arthur L. Scott Center. 

Nazir Gossette (Philadelphia, PA/Math, Civics & Sciences Charter) finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds and Tony James (Harrisburg, PA/Harrisburg ) added 14 points and 14 rebounds out-rebounded the Bulldogs 46-43 and held them to 4.3% shooting from behind the arc (1 of 23). 

"Not our best showing tonight," remarked Head Coach Brennan McCarthy, "I can't tell you why, I just know we were a little sluggish tonight, but in the end we did what we needed to do to get the win."

Coca-Cola Player of the Game Stephon Sheard (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) scored 12 points, while Marquise McClean (York, PA/William Penn ) added a team-high 4 steals. 

The win moves Northampton to 11-1 overall, 9-1 in Region XIX and 7-1 in the EPAC. 

Thaddeus Stevens falls to 4-5 overall, 4-5 in Region XIX and 3-5 in conference play.

The Spartans travel north to Binghamton, NY on Thursday to face Broome Community College in a non-conference tilt.