FARMINGTON, Maine – Despite a 51-point second half push by the #3 SUNY Canton Kangaroos (14-13), the #2 Husson University men's basketball team (16-10) finished the night at Dearborn Gymnasium with a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Semifinal win, 85-74.

1st Half:

After a slow start in the opening minutes of the game for both teams, Husson cranked up the heat exploding into a 23-4 run while holding SUNY Canton to nine points, 32-9, with 7:13 left in the first half. The Roos picked up their game as they nearly tripled their points in the final seven minutes of the period as they cut the difference in half trailing behind the Eagles, 46-23. Justin Martin and DJ Bussey led Husson through the opening 20 minutes of the night with 11 points each on the scoreboard. 

2nd Half:

The Roos held the Eagles at 56 points over the course of four minutes as they slowly began creeping closer on the board after scoring eight unanswered points to bring the score to 56-42 with 11:44 left on the clock. 

SUNY Canton was relentless in the second half, scoring multiple buckets for every one basket that Husson drained, but the score deficit was too large to even the playing field. With just over nine minutes left to play, the Roos held the Eagles scoreless at 64 points for nearly three minutes before Corey Kaiser killed the lull with a layup and foul shot to help Husson maintain a 67-53 lead. 

For the first time since the beginning of the game, the Roos brought the score gap into the single digits, 72-63, after Robert Holliday, Jr. drained a 3-pointer with ease with 3:14 remaining. A Kaiser layup brought the difference back into the double-digits as the Eagles finished out the night with an 85-74 victory. 

Husson Leaders:

Bussey led all scorers with 26 points on 6-11 shooting from the floor and 6-11 from 3-point range. 

Martin added 20 points on 7-12 shooting with six rebounds and three blocks.

Justin Thompson closed out the night with the lone double-double of the game between 14 points and ten boards.

Kaiser notched a career-high 15 points for Husson paired with five rebounds.

SUNY Canton Leaders:

Andrew Fitch scooped up 13 boards for the Roos while smashing down four blocks and adding nine points. 

Holliday, Jr. led his team with 18 points and nine boards, just shy of a double-double, including 14 points in just the second half. 

Jordan Stewart lit up in the second frame with 11 points on 5-6 shooting from the field. 

UP NEXT!

#2 Husson will continue on to the NAC Championship game tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. against the #4 Thomas College Terriers at the University of Maine-Farmington in Dearborn Gymnasium.