CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Husson University men's basketball team played its final game before the holiday break on Monday evening and earned an 80-66 win over Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Rockwell Cage.
Husson (9-1) came out with energy from the jump, as four of its five starters found the scoring column inside the first four minutes of play and the Eagles' quick 8-0 run forced MIT (2-9) into an early timeout. Husson was able to open up a double-digit advantage not much later on the Engineers as was able to carry that edge into the halftime break with the score at 42-30.
The Eagles ended the opening half shooting just under 46% from the floor, including shooting 6-16 from beyond the arc. Husson, who entered action on Monday ranked sixth in all of Division III in field goal defense, stuck true to that ranking, as it held MIT to a 36.4% shooting percentage in the opening frame.
The Eagles looked to have put away the Engineers early on in the second half, as a dunk from senior Jared Balser gave Husson a 19-point lead with just under 16 minutes to play. MIT wouldn't go away, as it gradually chipped away at the Eagles' lead, getting as close as 68-62 with 4:11 remaining. Husson would put the game away down the stretch, outscoring the Engineers 12-4 over the final four-plus minutes to come away with the road, non-conference victory.
Junior Riles Neff led all Eagle scorers in the victory, tallying 16 points, in addition to solidifying his top ten ranking in all of Division III for assists per game, as he handed out five dimes. Sophomore Eric Ahlers came off the bench to score 14 points, including four three-pointers, while Balser rounded-out the double-figure scoring, as he tallied 10 points and seven rebounds. Senior Jeremy Moronta finished a stat-filled evening with seven points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
Husson finished the evening at just 45% from the floor as a team and shot an efficient 87.5% from the free throw line. The No. 2 ranked team in Division III for team rebounds per game dominated the glass, out rebounding MIT 43-31, in addition to recording 14 second chance points during the win.
The Eagles are off for the holidays, but will travel to Las Vegas, Nev. to take part in the D3hoops.com Classic starting on Dec. 28. Husson will open the classic with a contest against the University of La Verne at 2 p.m.
