UMM Clippers topple Husson 64-63 in playoff

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The king of NAIA District 5 basketball is dead, felled by a 6-foot-6 Englishman who sailed into Bangor with a fleet of battle-ready Clippers.

University of Maine-Machias forward Michael Payne’s putback layup off a blocked shot with 4 seconds left was the blow that enabled the third-seeded Clippers to slay defending district champion Husson College 64-63 Thursday night in the opening round of the small college playoffs.

The win sends UMM (20-4) into next week’s District 5 Final Four at the Portland Expo. The Clippers will face top West seed St. Joseph’s the Provider of Rutland, Vt., a 97-93 winner over Atlantic Union Monday night.

Payne’s shot was set up after teammate Todd Middleton (17 points) drove the right baseline, only to have his 8-foot attempt rejected by 6-8 Husson center Brian Burrell. The ball came right to the native of Workingham, England. The sophomore pump-faked, went to the basket, and scored his 14th and 15th points of the night.

Husson, 22-9, didn’t relinquish its two-year seat on the district throne easily. Inbounding with three seconds left, the Braves got the ball to halfcourt and called timeout with two ticks remaining.

With UMM double-teaming Husson mainstay Raymond Alley, who had already riddled the Clippers with 28 points, Rich Mazurek had to inbound to Burrell at the left foul line extended. Burrell’s off-balance 16-footer bounced off at the buzzer.

“This means we can beat a great program in their gym,” said UMM Coach Sean Casey, after watching his team avenge last year’s loss to Husson in the district final. “It means we’ve knocked out the district champion. It means we proved we have what it takes to win a game like this.”

The Clippers proved it by answering every Husson big play down the stretch with a big play of their own.

After Husson’s Alley buried a three-pointer from beyond the top of the key to give Husson a 60-59 lead with 2:53 left and Burrell hit 1-of-2 from the foul line to make it 61-59, UMM senior guard Ade Orelaja responded.

First the 6-2 native of London, England, penetrated Husson’s packed in zone and drew a foul, hitting both free throws to tie the game at 61. Then Orelaja, who had been victimized by Alley much of the night, timed Alley’s spin move and stripped the Husson guard of the ball, driving the length of the court and drawing a frustration foul from the Braves’ mainstay.

Orelaja (10 points) hit the first free throw to give UMM a 62-61 lead with 1:43 left.

“He’s our only senior, so I guess it’s fitting he makes the play that ends up being the difference,” said Casey.

Husson had a chance to retake the lead when Alley drew a two-shot foul after an exchange of turnovers with 23 seconds left. But he missed the second freebie. Scott Brown of Husson grabbed the miss, and Alley drew another foul. But he only hit 1 of 2 to put the Braves up 63-62 with 18 seconds remaining.

It wasn’t enough.

The game was a tough, defensive struggle throughout. The Clippers’ largest lead was six (27-21). Husson’s largest lead was four (49-45).

There were nine lead changes.

By playing a box-and-one with Alley chasing UMM top scorer Middleton, Husson choked off the Clippers’ inside game. Drew Meredith, UMM’s 6-4 inside specialist, had only 2 points in the first half and 11 on the game.

But the Clippers played great defense as well, their man-to-man resulting in a 23-for-64 shooting night for the Braves. Other than Alley, only Burrell (15 points) reached double figures.

Clippers 64, Braves 63

UM-Machias Husson

Name AG G AF F TP Name AG G AF F TP

Middleton 15 6 5 3 17 Alley 23 10 9 5 28

Orelaja 12 3 4 3 10 Nance 4 1 3 0 2

Payne 7 6 4 3 15 Range 10 2 4 2 6

Meredith 9 5 1 1 11 Burrell 10 6 4 3 15

Wilson 2 0 0 0 0 Brown 5 3 1 0 6

Kovaks 3 2 0 0 4 Shakoor 1 0 2 2 2

Matthews 1 1 2 1 3 Mazurek 1 1 0 0 2

Johnson 1 1 0 0 2 Garay 0 0 0 0 0

Lambert 3 1 0 0 2 Good 4 0 2 2 2

Knowlton 1 0 0 0 0

Totals 53 25 16 11 64 Totals 64 23 25 14 63

UM-Machias 31 64

Husson 27 63

3-pt. goals: UM-Machias (3-8): Middleton (2-3), Orelaja (1-5); Husson (3-14): Alley (3-12), Good (0-2)