FARMINGTON, Maine – Husson University's 53 percent shooting from the field proved to be the difference for the Eagles in a 77-69 North Atlantic Conference men's basketball win over the University of Maine at Farmington, Tuesday night at Dearborn Gym.

Husson remains undefeated this season while improving its record to 11-0, 5-0 in the NAC. UMaine-Farmington fell to 6-7, 4-3 in conference play.

The Eagles connected on 28 of their 52 field goal attempts (.528) to the Beavers' 24-of-52 effort (.462) from the floor – the only significant statistical difference in what was otherwise an evenly-played and physical contest.

Brooks Spaulding paced Husson with 15 points, leading a quartet of Eagles in double-figures.  Phil Leighton, Trevon Butler, and Aaron Willis each tallied 14 points in the win, with Spaulding and Butler each grabbing a team-high five rebounds.

Willis also finished with four steals in the game.

Senior Ben Johnson charted game highs of 25 points and eight rebounds with four blocks to lead UMaine-Farmington. Junior Pet Sumner connected on four 3-pointers and was 4-of-4 at the free-throw line on his way to a 20-point night.

Senior Sam Leal dished out seven assists, while Nate Carson had four assists and three steals to go with his eight points.

Husson led wire-to-wire, surviving several challenges from UMaine-Farmington along the way.

In the first half, the Beavers erased a 27-12 deficit with 6:14 remaining, and trimmed the lead down to 35-32 at the half thanks largely to three Sumner 3-pointers.

The Eagles again extended their lead to double-digits in the second half, 58-47 at the 6:32 mark, on a Mike Gonzales layup. The Beavers answered with a 12-4 run that cut that margin down to a single possession, 62-59, on a Carson trey with 3:26 showing on the clock.

UMaine-Farmington would get no closer and Husson went 10-of-12 at the line down the stretch to secure the win.

UMaine-Farmington returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 18, when it hosts Thomas College at Dearborn Gym, while Husson plays host to NAC-rival Colby-Sawyer College on Friday, Jan. 17.

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