Balanced Scoring Attack Lifts Husson University Men’s Basketball Past NEC
HENNIKER, N.H. – Five different players finished in double-figures Friday evening as the Husson University Eagles topped the New England College Pilgrims 81-56 in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) men’s basketball action.
With the win the Eagles improve to 5-6 overall and even their NAC record at 2-2. The loss drops the Pilgrims to 0-11 on the season and 0-5 in NAC play.
Husson would jump out of the gate building an early 16-2 lead but NEC would chip away using an 8-0 run and trail just 16-10 midway through the half. The Eagles would rebuild their first half lead to as many as 15 but again the Pilgrims would answer closing out the half out scoring Husson 13-5 in the final five minutes to head into halftime down just 38-32.
NEC would grab their first lead of the game 1:08 into the second half as Ryan Schmitz (Redding, Calif.) would hit a jumper putting NEC up 39-38. The lead would be short lived as Husson would respond with a strong second half shooting 52% from the field and scoring 18 points off Pilgrim turnovers eventually cruising to the 81-56 victory.
Leading the way for Husson was Mark Zaharchuk (Richmond, Maine) who led all scorers with 16 points. Husson’s Eric Cottonham (Silver Springs, Md.) chipped in 14 points, while Jacob Moore (Hampden, Maine) pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with eight points.
Leading the way for NEC was Abdiraham Mohamed (Biddeford, Maine) who finished with a team-high 12 points and Ryan Schmitz (Redding, Calif.) who finished in double-figures scoring 10 point on the evening.
NEC returns to action Saturday, Jan. 5 when they host NAC opponent Maine Maritime Academy. Husson will hit the court Saturday, Jan. 5 as well traveling to take on conference for Colby-Sawyer College.
Scoring by half 1 2 Total
Husson University 38 43 81
New England College 35 21 56
Published: January 4, 2013
