There will be a new champion on the men’s basketball side of the North Atlantic Conference, as the University of Maine-Presque Isle came to Newman Gymnasium in Bangor on Sunday afternoon and defeated the two time league champion Husson Eagles 78-74 in overtime in a NAC semifinal.
Husson had rallied from down six with 40 seconds left in regulation to force overtime on a four point play by Connor Heald, and after a defensive stop a driving layup by Andre McCauley with nine seconds to go. The Owls scored the first seven points of the extra session, and then would hold on getting two key free throws from Tyson Engert with two seconds left to ice it sending UMPI to their first ever NAC Championship game appearance.
Akhe McMichael led the Owls with 23 points (8-14 FG, 3-5 three-pointers). Yuki Ishibashi had 18 points (3-5 three-pointers) in 11 minutes off the bench. Engert and Doug McCalla both also got into double figures with 14 points and 11 points respectively. UMPI is now 15-12 and will play on the road at top seed UMaine-Farmington (21-5) next Saturday in the NAC Title contest. McCauley put in a game-high 25 points (9-15 FG) and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Eagles. Eric Ahlers also recorded a double double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Dylan Burpee (Southern Aroostook) and Gil Matondo also registered double figures with 11 points and 10 points respectively. Husson ends their season with a record of 16-10.
Photo of Akhe McMichael in a game earlier this season courtesy of UMPI Athletics
