WATERVILLE, Maine – The North Atlantic Conference named its major award winners and all-conference selections for men's basketball on Thursday and Husson University senior Gil Matondo was crowned co-defensive player of the year.
Matondo picked up Husson's first defensive player of the year selection since Justin Martin in 2017 and just the third overall for the program, in addition to earning a spot on the all-conference second team. Matondo consistently guarded the opposing team's best scorer, regardless of position, oftentimes holding them below their season scoring average, in addition to leading the NAC with 1.5 blocks per game, while also recording just shy of one steal a night.
Offensively, Matondo posted 11.6 points per game on 47.5% shooting from the floor, while also adding 6.3 rebounds and over two assists a game. Matondo posted 16 double-figure scoring games in 26 games played, including three 20-point performances, while also adding four double-doubles.
Senior Eric Ahlers represented Husson on the all-conference first team after a standout senior year where he saw his scoring average grow from 12.6 points per game on Dec. 13 to 20.3 at the season's end. Over his last 18 games of the season, Ahlers averaged 23.7 points per game and scored greater than 20 points in 14 of those 18 games, including three 30-point games and one 35-point performance against Maine Maritime Academy.
Additionally, Ahlers finished second in the NAC in rebounds per game with 9.2, posting 13 double-doubles during the year, while also totaling better than two assists per game. Ahlers scored in double-figures in every game this year for the Eagles and was named NAC player of the week once during the season.
Sophomore Connor Heald joined Matondo on the all-conference second team after finishing second on the Eagles with 14.9 points per game on over 50% shooting from the floor and 33% from beyond the arc. Heald tied for the team lead with 73 assists, while also averaging just shy of four rebounds game, adding the second-most steals on the team with 37. Heald scored in double-figures in 22 of Husson's 26 games this season, including five 20-point games, which included a career-high 26 points against Vermont State University Lyndon, in addition to compiling one double-double during the year.
Junior Andre McCauley was the final all-conference honoree for the Eagles, earning a spot on the second team following a season that saw him record the third most points per game on the Eagles with 14.7. McCauley shot a very efficient 51.6% from the floor, including 41% from beyond the arc, while also posting an 80% clip from the foul line, in addition to posting nearly four rebounds and three assists per contest. McCauley recorded 18 double-figure scoring games in 22 games played, including seven 20-point games, which included a career-high 29 points against Lyndon.
Additionally for Husson, senior Ty Henke was named to the NAC sportsmanship team.
