CASTINE, Maine – Husson University used an 11-2 run approaching the midway point of the second half to pull away from Maine Maritime Academy in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) men's basketball Saturday afternoon. Luis Medina (Hartford, Conn.) scored a game-high 16 points to pace the Eagles (8-10, 7-4 NAC) to a 73-50 win over the Mariners (2-15, 1-9 NAC).
Maine Maritime trailed by one, 34-33 with 17:14 left in the game, before Husson's Eric Modica (Kittery, Maine) dropped a trey to spark the decisive run. Modica's shot was the only one of the Eagles' 14-three-point-attempts to fall through the hoop. The junior guard was solid from the floor throughout, hitting six-of-eight shots to finish with 14 points.
Three different players joined in on the scoring during the run, including Phil Leighton (Naples, Maine), who scored four of his 12 points in that stretch, including a pair of free throws. He was eight-for-eight from the charity stripe.
The game was marred by a torrent of fouls from both teams. Maine Maritime was knocked 27 times, while Husson was hit 21. The Mariners lost Andy Ball (Hermon, Maine) and Tyler Pineo (Corinth, Maine) to fouls, and had three more players on the brink for much of the second half. That, combined with injuries, left the Mariners bench depleted down the stretch, allowing Husson to pull away by 20 over the last three minutes.
The Mariners got season-highs of 15 points and eight rebounds out of Brandon Theriault (East Millinocket, Maine). The freshman shot four-of-seven from the field, including a two-for-two effort from three-point range. He went five-of-six at the line. Ball went to the bench with 11 points and five rebounds. Shawn Silva (Attleboro, Mass.) posted season-highs of nine points and nine rebounds.
The Eagles dominated down low, outscoring the Mariners 36-16 in the paint. Husson grabbed 14 offensive boards for a dozen second-chance points, and held a 40-38 edge on the glass. Maine Maritime turned the ball over 27 times, allowing Husson 37 points. Leighton and Modica each had a game-high, four steals.
The Mariners return to action next Friday night, taking on Castleton State in NAC play. Husson will host Green Mountain on Friday evening, also in NAC play. The teams will swap opponents next Saturday.
HUSSON 73, MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY 50
HUSSON (8-10, 7-4)
Luis Medina 5-12 6-6 16; Eric Modica 6-8 1-6 14; Phil Leighton 2-6 8-8 12; Daeshawn McMorrin 4-7 0-3 8; Marc Zaharchuk 1-8 6-10 8; Mike Gonzales 2-7 0-0 4; Jon Klages 2-4 0-0 4; Dan Fleming 1-2 0-0 2; Aaron Willis 0-1 2-2 2; Jason Burgo 0-1 2-2 2; Brad Libby 0-4 1-2 1; Wes Murphy 0-4 0-0 0; Wes
Sexton 0-0 0-0 0; Matt Dube 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-64 26-39 73.
MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY (2-15, 1-9)
Brandon Theriault 4-7 5-6 15; Andy Ball 2-5 7-8 11; Shawn Silva 3-5 3-5 9; Bradley Reed 1-3 2-4 4; Benjamin Russell 2-4 0-1 4; David Lord 1-5 2-4 4; Shawn Dostie 1-4 1-2 3; Tyler Pineo 0-6 0-0 0; Jason Hatch 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 14-40 20-30 50.
Husson........................ 28 45 - 73
Maine Maritime Academy........ 27 23 - 50
3-point goals--Husson 1-14 (Eric Modica 1-1; Phil Leighton 0-1; Daeshawn McMorrin 0-2; Mike Gonzales 0-1; Aaron Willis 0-1; Brad Libby 0-2; Wes Murphy 0-3; Luis Medina 0-3), Maine Maritime Academy 2-9 (Brandon Theriault 2-2; Benjamin Russell 0-1; Tyler Pineo 0-5; Jason Hatch 0-1).
Fouled out--Husson-None, Maine Maritime Academy-Andy Ball; Tyler Pineo.
Rebounds--Husson 40 (Wes Murphy 6; Luis Medina 6), Maine Maritime Academy 38 (Shawn Silva 9).
Assists--Husson 4 (Luis Medina 2), Maine Maritime Academy 3 (Tyler Pineo 1; David Lord 1; Shawn Dostie 1).
Total fouls--Husson 21, Maine Maritime Academy 27.
Technical fouls--Husson-None, Maine Maritime
Academy-None.
A-142