BANGOR – Sure, senior guard Jason Harvey was a big reason why his Husson College men’s team jumped out to a huge lead Tuesday, but it was Husson’s overall team play that made this one a blowout.

Harvey scored a game-high 19 on senior night at Newman Gymnasium and the Eagles remained unbeaten in North Atlantic Conference play with an 88-53 basketball win over Thomas College.

“I thought in the first 15 minutes, we played extremely well and at the level we want,” said Husson coach Warren Caruso, whose Eagles improve to 17-5 overall and 12-0 in the NAC. “I think early on, our pressure defense was bothering them and that kind of set the tempo for the rest of the game.”

Husson scored the first 15 points and 30 of the first 36 to build an insurmountable lead.

“They’re very talented and skilled and we’re young,” said Thomas coach T.J. Maines. “I think we kind of got in a mental funk early and didn’t come out of it for awhile.”

It didn’t help that the Eagles’ shooting was as hot as the defensive pressure they were generating. Husson shot 51.4 percent from the field in the first half and 48.5 for the game while holding Thomas to 25.8 in the first and 29.5 overall.

The Terriers also committed 24 turnovers to Husson’s 12.

“I’m glad we don’t play them again this year,” said Maines, whose Terriers slipped to 4-16 overall and 2-8 in NAC play.

Harvey hit three 3-pointers from the left wing during a 74-second span late in the first half to extend an 18-0 scoring run for the Eagles. He scored 17 in the first half.

“They lost me a few times there in transition and I got some open looks,” said the Bucksport native, who also had five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Center Martin Cleveland of Portland continued his breakout freshman season with 14 points and seven rebounds, and sophomore forward Scott Kissinger had 10 points, five boards and two steals.

“Harvey was terrific, but it’s really all their guys,” said Maines. “You leave anyone open and they’re going to hurt you. You really just kind of pick your poison with those guys.”

Another freshman, Brock Bradford, turned in a solid all-around game with nine points, four assists, four steals and three rebounds.

“We wanted to come out and set the tone defensively and put it away early,” said Bradford, who said the team was motivated to win for seniors Tyler Muzzy and Harvey as well as to remain unbeaten in the NAC.

“That’s definitely something we want to do,” said the guard from Kenduskeag. “Every conference game is equally important and now we have a chance to clinch home court advantage throughout the playoffs.”

Adam Rich led the Terriers with 12 points (all on 3-pointers). Derrell Rose had 11 points, six rebounds and three assists off the bench.

Adam Blodgett of Winslow contributed seven rebounds and three blocked shots.

EAGLES 88, TERRIERS 53

Thomas men (4-16) Husson (17-5)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Rich 4 15 0 0 12 Bradford 4 9

Jett 1 4 0 0 3 Kissinger 4 10

Veino 1 3 0 0 2 Muzzy 3 5 9

Alexander 2 8 0 0 4 Cleveland 6 11 2 2 14

Blodgett 2 10 1 2 5 Harvey 7 13 19

Herrick 1 3 0 0 2 Figueroa 1 2

Stred 0 0 4 5 4 Perras 1 4 3

Little 0 3 1 2 1 Hodges 1 3 2

Kennedy 0 0 0 0 0 Lee 1 8 3

Brackett 0 0 0 0 0 Kane 1 1 5

Peters 3 6 1 2 9 MacKnzie 0 0

Rose 4 9 0 0 11 Puls 0 0 0 0

Philbrook 0 1 0

Cummings 0 0 1

Jennings 0 1 0

Henry 1 3 2 4

Coffin 3 5 0 7

Totals 18 61 7 11 53 Total 33 68 11 13 88

Thomas 19 53

Husson 48 88

3-pt. goals – Thomas (10-24): Rich 4-11, Rose 3-7, Peters 2-3, Jett 1-1, Herrick 0-2; Husson (11-28): Harvey 5-10, Kissinger 2-4, Kane 1-1, Coffin 1-2, Perras 1-4, Lee 1-5, Figueroa 0-2

Attendance: 258