BANGOR, Maine – The Husson University men's basketball team advanced to the North Atlantic Conference Championship game after senior J Thomas drilled a three-pointer at the buzzer to defeat the University of Maine at Farmington 64-63 at Newman Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

The first half was a highly-competitive defensive affair that saw the Beavers take a 25-23 lead into the halftime intermission, after scoring the final five points of the half. The two teams combined to shoot just over 30% during the first 20 minutes, in addition to shooting 17% from the three-point arc and 15 combined turnovers. The lead changed hands six times during the half and saw neither team possess a lead larger than six points.

Thomas and graduate student Justin Thompson led Husson (14-9) in the first half with six points apiece. Thompson also grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists during the half. Junior Jared Balser and senior Justice Kendall were both active defensively, as Balser hauled down six rebounds and blocked three shots, while Kendall recorded four steals.

Farmington (14-7) was led by senior Terion Moss in the first frame, as he tallied eight points and recorded three assists. Senior Jack Kane contributed six points and four rebounds for the Beavers as well.

The back-and-forth game continued into the second half, but the offense for both teams would heat up. After a shot-clock violation by the Beavers and their lead at 61-59, Thomas would hit a jump shot for Husson to knot the game up at 61 apiece. After a missed shot on the other end by Moss, Balser would secure the rebound for Husson but would be stripped by Kane and he would finish a layup to put Farmington ahead for what seemed to be for good. After a foul on the Beavers, Husson would have the ball underneath their own basket. Thompson would receive the in-bounds pass and hand off to Kendall. Kendall was forced to give the ball up and found Thomas on the left-wing and the Chicago, Illinois native would drill the game-winner at the buzzer.

The Eagles were led by Thomas, who tied his season-high with 19 points. Senior DJ Bussey would finish with 13 points, while Thompson would contribute 10 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Balser finished a stout defensive-effort with six points, eight rebounds, and a career-high seven blocks.

Kane led Farmington's scoring attack, tallying an 18-point, 15 rebound double-double, while Moss added 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Senior Nathan Poulin rounded-out the Beavers' double-digit scoring with 10 points.

With the win, Husson advances to the NAC Championship game on Saturday at 2:00. The Eagles will host the West Division Champion SUNY-Poly at Newman Gymnasium.