LYNDONVILLE, Vt. – The Husson University men's basketball team opened up North Atlantic Conference action with a bang as it defeated Vermont State University Lyndon 94-65 on Friday evening at Bole Gymnasium.

Husson (6-0, 1-0 NAC) scored the first six points of the game off of layups from senior Jeremy Moronta, junior Riles Neff and freshman Andre McCauley and forced Lyndon (0-8, 0-1 NAC) into a timeout just two minutes into the contest. The Eagles maintained a two-possession lead or more for the entirety of the opening half, as they would capture their biggest lead of the frame on a layup by Moronta with 1:22 to play in the half to make the score 52-33. A quick 5-0 spurt by the Hornets to end the opening half gave them some life as Husson took a 52-38 edge into the locker room.

Moronta and Neff paced the Eagles in the first half, as they each tallied 10 points, while Moronta grabbed five rebounds and dished out five assists and Neff added four rebounds, in addition to seven assists. 

McCauley and sophomores Ty Henke and Eric Ahlers each contributed six points for an Eagles team who shot over 52% from the floor in the opening frame. Husson also connected on 5-13 shots from three-point land, in addition to recording 18 assists on 23 made field goals.

The Eagles were able to maintain at least a double-figure lead for the entire second half as they would secure the team's best start since the 2013-14 season when it started 13-0.

For the second-consecutive game five Husson players recorded double-figure point totals on the night. Moronta led the charge as he tallied his third double-double of the season, recording 16 points and 10 rebounds, while also handing out six dimes. Graduate student Derek Collin contributed 13 points of his own, in addition to grabbing seven rebounds, while McCauley, Neff and Ahlers each added 12, with Neff finishing one assist shy of a double-double and Ahlers hauling in eight rebounds.

The Eagles finished just shy of 50% from the field during their conference opener, while also winning the rebounding battle over the Hornets 52-43 and forcing Lyndon into 18 turnovers on the evening. 

It's a quick turnaround for the men's basketball team as it will face the Hornets again for the second time in less than 24 hours, as the two teams will meet for the final time during the regular season tomorrow afternoon with tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m.