Written by; Jameson Bloch '26
FARMINGTON, Maine — The University of Maine at Farmington men's basketball team has secured the No. 1 seed in the North Atlantic Conference Tournament and will host No. 5 seed SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tigers on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
The Beavers closed out the regular season last Saturday with an 80-75 victory over Maine Maritime Mariners. With the win, Farmington improved to 20-5 overall and an impressive 17-1 in conference play.
Overview
The Beavers reclaim the top spot in the conference after two seasons of falling short of the regular-season title. Husson Eagles also earned a first-round bye, securing the No. 2 seed with a 15-3 NAC record and a 16-9 overall mark.
In Thursday's 3 vs. 6 matchup, the No. 6 seed Thomas Terriers (10-8 NAC, 11-15 overall) traveled north to face No. 3 seed UMaine Presque Isle Owls (11-7 NAC, 14-12 overall). The Owls earned an 88-79 victory and will face Husson on Sunday at 1 p.m.
In the 4 vs. 5 contest, SUNY Cobleskill (10-8 NAC, 12-13 overall) traveled to Castine to take on Maine Maritime (11-7 NAC, 11-15 overall). The Fighting Tigers pulled off a 75-71 upset and will now meet Farmington on Sunday at 2 p.m.\
Season at a Glance
Farmington
The Beavers enter the postseason riding a seven-game winning streak and have recorded their highest win total in the past five years. The team also ranks eighth in Division III in three-pointers made.
Sophomore guard Zach McLaughlin (Hampden, Maine) leads the team in scoring, averaging 25.5 points per game — ranking seventh in Division III. He also averages 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per contest. In the final two regular-season games against Thomas and Maine Maritime, McLaughlin poured in 35 points, marking a career high. In the win over MMA, he also set a career best with seven three-pointers made.
Junior forward Jason Reynolds (Winslow, Maine) has been a dominant force on the glass, averaging 15.2 rebounds per game and finishing with 379 total rebounds — a single-season program record. He leads Division III in total rebounds (379), defensive rebounds (257), offensive rebounds (122), and double-doubles (23). Reynolds also ranks second on the team in scoring at 17.5 points per game. His standout performance came against VTSU-Johnson, where he scored 35 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in just 20 minutes of action.
Gabe Michaud (Gorham, Maine) has served as the team's primary facilitator at point guard, finishing eighth in Division III with 147 assists. Against Thomas on December 5, he scored a career-high 22 points while playing all 45 minutes in an overtime thriller.
Sophomore forward Kory Donlin (Warren, Maine) has provided a spark off the bench, averaging 13.2 points per game. His season-high 23-point performance came against VTSU-Johnson, where he also hit the game-winning buzzer-beater.
Junior forward Charlie Houghton (Dixfield, Maine) and junior guard Brayden St. Pierre (Readfield, Maine) have started every game this season. Houghton averages 11.1 points per game and provides a steady offensive presence, while St. Pierre anchors the defense, consistently guarding the opposing team's top scorer.
SUNY Cobleskill
The Fighting Tigers enter the tournament with a 10-8 NAC record. Cobleskill is led by sophomore forward Marquey Tanksley (Cohoes, New York), who averages 10.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He recorded a season-high 21 points against Lesley.
Emilio Nabli (Brooklyn, New York) also averages double figures with 10.3 points per game and leads the team with 2.6 assists per contest.
Season Matchups
Farmington has defeated SUNY Cobleskill in both meetings this season, earning victories by scores of 92-75 and 86-80.
