LEXINGTON, Mass. – The Husson University men's basketball team put together its most complete performance of the young season on Saturday afternoon, rolling past Lesley University, 94–61, in North Atlantic Conference play at Minuteman High School.
Husson (3-2, 2-0 NAC) set the tone early with disruptive defense and fast-paced offense. Less than two minutes in, a steal from freshman Pierce Walston led to a transition finish, opening the scoring and sparking a 12–1 Husson run. Moments later, senior Charlie Katsiaficas drilled back-to-back threes, and freshman Christian Smith added a transition layup to push the Eagles in front 12–1 by the 15-minute mark. The defensive pressure—highlighted by Walston's five first-half steals—kept Lesley (1-6, 1-2 NAC) off balance, while crisp ball movement on the other end allowed Husson to stretch the lead to 24–12 after another Smith triple at 11:55.
The Eagles continued to separate as the half progressed. Junior Andre McCauley buried a three from the right wing to reach double figures early, and senior Ty Henke came off the bench to provide a spark, knocking down a jumper to halt a brief Lynx push. Smith added two more threes in a span of 16 seconds to make it 24–12, and Husson entered halftime up 46–31 behind 17 made field goals and nine triples in the opening 20 minutes.
Husson never looked back in the second half. The Eagles' depth took over as the bench contributed 48 total points, and the lead ballooned to more than 40 late in the game. Walston continued to orchestrate the offense, finishing with eight assists and nine rebounds, while the Eagles' defensive rotations held Lesley to just 30.9 percent shooting. Ahlers delivered a dominant second half, scoring all 10 of his points after the break—along with eight boards in the final period—to help Husson maintain full control.
McCauley led all scorers with 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting, including three triples, while Smith added 15 points and four threes in an efficient 25-minute performance. Katsiaficas posted 13 points, knocking down three shots from deep. Heald delivered a strong all-around outing with 12 points, five assists, and four rebounds, and senior Eric Ahlers notched a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Walston filled the stat sheet with six points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and five steals.
As a team, Husson recorded 26 assists on 37 made field goals and forced 20 turnovers that turned into 27 points at the other end. The Eagles also dominated the glass, holding a 47–39 rebound advantage and converting 12 offensive boards into 17 second-chance points.
Husson returns to action after Thanksgiving break when it hosts the University of Maine-Presque Isle at 1 p.m. on Dec. 6.
