Box Score The weather outside was most certainly frightful, but the basketball inside the Newman Gym was more than delightful Friday night as the Eagles hosted rival Castleton. The high-flying Eagles 'ooped and dunked their way to a 77-63 victory and a 10-4 record (3-0 in conference). With the loss, the Spartans fall to 6-7 (2-1 in conference).
The Eagles took control of the tip, and scored first when Daeshawn McMorrin drained a deep 2 from the corner. The Spartans made it clear early that they came to Bangor with defense in mind, and the Eagles responded with tight coverage of their own.
Luis Medina broke the ice and the early deadlock with a 3 from the top of the key, one of his two first half 3's helping him add 7 points in the first half. On the next possession Josh Jones hit both tries from the line, stole the ensuing inbounds pass, laid the ball up and completed a 3 point play to give him 5 points in that 20 second stretch.
Castleton thawed out their side of the scoreboard with 12 and a half remaining as they added another point from the line as Greg Hughes split his tries, and Kevin Eisenberg nailed a 3 the next time down the floor.
Castleton called a 30 second time out at 8:39 to try and warm up their scorers, with the Eagles leading 19-8.
Mark Zaharchuk brought the crowd to their feet on the Eagles' first possession down the floor, as Husson picked apart the Spartan press and found the big man camped out under the rim and he finished with a raucous one handed slam.
Jay Uhrin pushed the ball down the floor and pulled up for a deep 2, and on the next possession beat his defender for the easy lay-in. This forced the Spartans to take a time-out with 6:50 left in an attempt to slow down the Eagles offense, with Husson leading 25-11.
Castleton was living and dying by the press late in the first half, forcing a few turnovers that lead to scores by Hughes, but more often the Eagles broke through and found Zaharchuk camped out underneath for more rim-rocking finishes, as the center lead all scorers with 8 points at the half, making all 4 field goals he attempted.
With 3:30 minutes to go, the referees stopped the action to take a look at some blood on Daeshawn McMorrin's shirt, but ultimately deemed him fit to continue play. That was a good choice for the Eagles as he added a tear-drop through traffic on the next possession. McMorrin had 7 points on the half, as well as a pair of steals.
Castleton finished the half with a pair of free throws by Matt Cooney, and when Husson's last chance heave slammed against the backboard, the score at the half went into the books 37-25.
Mark Comstock lead the Spartans with 8 points at the break, and was the only visiting to make multiple field goals in the first session.
Husson began the half with possession, getting Josh Jones the ball inside who drew the 4th foul from the Spartan center Kyle Bennett and even though he split from the line, Eric Modica rebounded the missed second shot extending the possession, eventually leading to a deep 2 from Jay Uhrin.
Comstock scored first for Castleton, completing a nice spin-move to bead the defense and pull the Spartans to within 11 just inside of 17 minutes.
With 15:30 left in the game, the Eagles started to take the momentum, inbounding the ball for an alley-oop to Josh Jones that sent the crowd into an uproar. Husson stole the ball when the Spartans tried to bring it up the floor leading to a Jay Uhrin lay-up in transition with the crowd still on their feet. The Eagles lead by as many as 20.
The Spartans settled down and went on a run, lead by threes from Comstock and Hughes to bring the score to 53-46 with 10 minutes left. They cut the lead to 7 points with a deep 2 from Cochran, but after the shot, Castleton was called for a foul underneath which proved to be the Spartans' 7th, and Eric Modica hit both shots to extend the Eagle lead to 9. Jones split his attempts from the charity stripe the next time down the floor to bring the Husson lead to double digits at the 6 minute mark, 60-50.
Modica went to the line on the 9th Castleton foul, he missed the front end, but got his own rebound before the Spartans realized the situation, and all the defenders could do was foul. Modica hit both of his free throws, but not before Castleton changed lines. Thanks to some clutch shooting at the line, the Eagles stretched the lead to 19 with 4 to play.
Mark Zaharchuk saw his first second half minutes late in the half, but helped seal the win with defensive rebounds, and even managed to bring the ball up the court, and walk away from the line as a made free throw was still in the air. Zaharchuk finished the game with 10 points.
Castleton would not go gently, amping up the heat with the full court press. Jay Uhrin wiggled his way through the pressure and found Josh Jones for a back-door reverse alley-oop, bringing the crowd to their feet once again in amazement. After that miraculous slam, Husson managed the clock, and held on to win 77-63.
Jones lead all scorers with 21 points, and just missed his doubled-double adding 9 boards. Uhrin was close behind him with 20 points despite a cold night from behind the arc.
Mark Comstock lead all thirteen Spartans who got their name in the scoring column with 12 points, and was the only Castleton player in double figures.
