CASTINE, Maine – The Husson University men's basketball team survived a late push from Maine Maritime Academy on Saturday afternoon and hung on for a 61-58 North Atlantic Conference victory at Smith Gymnasium in the team's first contest of the new year.

Husson (12-1, 4-0 NAC) would get off to a fast start thanks to the duo of junior Riles Neff and senior Jeremy Moronta, who scored the team's first seven points and got the Eagles out to a 7-3 lead early on. The Mariners (5-6, 1-2 NAC) would counter, as a 21-6 run over a 10-minute stretch would give them a 24-13 lead over Husson. The Eagles would get the lead down to two on a layup from senior Jared Balser, but another run from MMA to close the half would give them a 35-28 halftime edge.

After giving up the first basket of the second half, Husson would rattle off the next 10 points to knot the game at 38-apiece on a run that was highlighted by balanced scoring, as four different Eagles found the scoring column, in addition to some great interior defense by Balser, who had two enormous blocks on the Mariners. 

Husson would use that momentum to gradually take control of the game and would build up a 59-52 lead with just 1:50 to play. Maine Maritime wouldn't quit, as back-to-back threes got the Mariners to within one with just under a minute to play. Free throw splits from graduate student Derek Collin and sophomore Eric Ahlers would give the Eagles a 61-58 edge, but left Maine Maritime with one final chance. The final shot for the Mariners wouldn't find the mark and Husson would leave Castine with their fourth-straight NAC win to start its conference slate.

Neff and Moronta each tallied a game-high 18 points to lead the Eagle offense. Moronta finished with a double-double, as he added 12 rebounds, in addition to four steals for a Husson team that shot 45% from the field. 

The Eagles held a slight edge on the boards over the Mariners 40-36, in addition to holding Maine Maritime to just a 32% shooting percentage in the contest.

Husson is back on the road on Monday when it travels to Farmington to take on the defending NAC East Division Champion University of Maine at Farmington Beavers with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m.