The Husson University men’s and women’s basketball teams hosted the University of Maine-Farmington for the start of a home and home North Atlantic Conference two game weekend against one another at Newman Gymnasium in Bangor on Friday night.
In the men’s game Husson bolted out to a 16 point first half lead, and would hold off a second half rally by UMaine-Farmington to hand the Beavers their first conference loss 88-78.
DJ Bussey (game high 25 points) had 20 in the first 20 minutes, including 5-6 from the three-point arc as the Eagles would build a 16 point advantage twice and led 39-28 at the halftime break. UMaine-Farmington (6-4, 2-1 North Atlantic Conference) would rally back getting within two on a couple of occasions about halfway through the second half. Husson was too much though using a 18-7 spurt to push it back to 13 that included layups by Justin Thompson and Cam Wood, a jumper by Thompson, along with three-pointers from Justice Kendall and Brett Cunningham that put it away. Bussey ended up 6-10 from three-point territory and also added four rebounds to lead the Eagles. Thompson had 15 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists. Cunningham added 14 points and six rebounds, and Kendall also chipped in 14 points as Husson improves to 6-7, 3-1 in the conference. Jack Kane had 19 points and nine rebounds to lead UMF. The Beavers played without leading scorer Terion Moss, who is out due to COVID health and safety protocols.
In the women’s game Husson used a 31-5 run in the first half to build a 24 point lead, and never looked back in a 62-45 win over UMaine-Farmington to stay unbeaten in conference play.
The Beavers led 2-0 and 4-2 before the huge run by the Eagles. Husson used spurts of 12-0, 8-0, and 13-0 to pull away and take a 39-20 advantage at halftime. UMF (6-5, 1-2 North Atlantic Conference) never got closer than 13 the rest of the way. Vanessa Duarte led the way in the win for Husson with a game high 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Bailey Donovan would add in 14 points and 15 rebounds. Alex Bessey and Page Brown had 11 points a piece for UMaine-Farmington. The Eagles are now 7-4, 5-0 in the NAC.
The Husson and UMaine-Farmington men and women both meet again Saturday in Farmington at Dearborn Gym. The men’s game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. tip, with the women’s game to follow.
