PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – The Husson University men's basketball team earned a key North Atlantic Conference road win on Saturday afternoon, pulling away in the second half to defeat the University of Maine-Presque Isle, 85-72, at Wieden Gymnasium.

Husson (13-8, 12-2 NAC) entered the break with a slim 39-35 advantage after a back-and-forth opening half that featured five lead changes. Seniors Eric Ahlers and Gil Matondo anchored the Eagles early, combining for steady scoring in the paint as Husson shot better than 56% from the field over the first 20 minutes. Despite Husson's efficiency, UMPI (9-12, 7-7 NAC) stayed within striking distance behind timely perimeter shooting, trimming the margin to four at halftime.

The hosts briefly grabbed momentum early in the second half, scoring the first seven points to take a three-point lead, but Husson responded quickly. Matondo converted a traditional three-point play to tie the game before Ahlers and sophomore Connor Heald sparked a decisive run that pushed the Eagles back in front for good. Husson extended the lead to double figures midway through the half and never allowed the Owls to close the gap inside eight the rest of the way.

Ahlers turned in a dominant all-around performance, finishing with a game-high 29 points on 10-of-16 shooting while also pulling down six rebounds. Matondo added 20 points and a team-high nine rebounds, in addition to three blocks, while Heald chipped in 16 points. Freshman Christian Smith provided a major boost off the bench, scoring 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting and knocking down a pair of three-pointers.

Husson shot 56.6% from the field for the game and an efficient 87.0% from the free-throw line, while holding UMPI to 40.0% shooting. The Eagles also controlled the interior, outscoring the Owls 38-24 in the paint and finishing with 18 bench points.

The Eagles will have the week to prepare for a long trip to New York this coming weekend, beginning with a 5:30 p.m. contest at SUNY Cobleskill on Friday.