Husson offense shines in win Scoring balance key as Eagles beat up Lesley

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BANGOR – Husson College demonstrated Friday night the importance of depth in the success of its men’s basketball team this season.

Freshmen Brock Bradford of Kenduskeag and Martin Cleveland of Portland played with the skill and poise of veterans, leading the Eagles to a 95-79 victory over Lesley University in a North Atlantic Conference semifinal contest.

Coach Warren Caruso’s top-seeded Eagles (21-5) face No. 2 Elms of Chicopee, Mass., a 68-64 winner over No. 3 Lasell College, in today’s 2 p.m. league title game at Newman Gym.

At stake is a trip to the NCAA Division III tournament.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Bradford, who led Husson with 20 points. “This is the goal, to win in the semifinals and have a chance to play [for a championship]. We’re just really grateful and excited for [Saturday].”

Bradford was a picture of efficiency in Eagles’ balanced attack. The former Calvary Chapel Christian star went 8-for-9 from the field, including 4-for-4 from 3-point range. He added four assists and a steal.

“Brock played a really solid, all-around game at both ends of the floor,” Caruso said.

Cleveland, a 6-foot-6 center, dominated the paint with 19 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots.

Husson’s chemistry was evident during a key 17-3 run.

Nick Henry kicked off the surge, scoring off a post-to-post pass from Cleveland. Jason Harvey followed with a fast-break layup.

Fabian Figueroa converted an aggressive drive to the hoop, then Cleveland hit a 10-foot turnaround off a Harvey feed, prompting a Lesley timeout.

“We’re in a good rhythm right now as a team,” Caruso said. “Everyone knows in our rotation when they’re going to be on the floor and what we expect from them.”

The Lynx, of Cambridge, Mass., came out in a 1-3-1 zone, which opened the door for 3-pointers by Bradford and Figueroa. John Micelin made two foul shots to end a 51/2-minute Lesle y scoring drought, but Sheraud Lee answered with a 3-pointer that gave Husson a 30-9 lead with 8:06 left in the half.

“Coach said try to get five people to touch the ball before a shot goes up, take some time off the shot clock, which was exactly what we did,” Cleveland said. “When they went into the zone, we just had to pull them out of it by putting our shooters in. They stroked the ball well.”

Bucksport’s Harvey scored 18 points, converting 13 of 16 free throws, for Husson. Tyler Muzzy of Greenville posted 10 points and nine rebounds, while Lee and Figueroa netted 10 points each. Scott Kissinger added five assists.

Husson shot 53 percent (31-for-59) from the field.

James Parker sparked Lesley with 20 points and eight rebounds. Joseph Chatman, Stanley Chamblain, Anthony Drayton, and Mark Stevens connected for 11 points apiece.

Chatman, an All-NAC first-team pick, was guarded by Bradford much of the evening.

“We put a freshman on him and said, here you go big guy, you’ve got him tonight,” Caruso said. “He really did a tremendous job in trying to limit good looks at the basket.”

The Lynx (14-13) outrebounded the Eagles 43-30.

Lesley trailed by as many as 24 points late in the first half but cut the deficit to 15 by halftime. The Lynx used a 9-0 flurry to pull within 45-37 with 16:10 left. However, Bradford scored five points during a 7-0 run that put Husson back in control.

EAGLES 95, LYNX 79

Lesley (14-13) Husson (21-5)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Andrews 1 4 0 0 2 Bradford 8 20

Chatman 4 14 2 2 11 Kissinger 1 4

Chamblain 3 5 3 4 11 Muzzy 4 6 10

Parker 8 18 3 3 20 Cleveland 8 16 3 7 19

Mead 1 3 0 0 2 Harvey 2 10 13 16 18

Cusick 0 0 0 0 0 Figueroa 4 10

Lush 2 5 0 0 5 Lee 3 5 2 10

Grassa 0 0 0 0 0 Henry 1 1 4

Stevens 4 7 0 0 11

Drayton 5 11 0 0 11

Micelin 1 7 4 4 6

Totals 29 74 12 13 79 Totals 31 59 24 34 95

Lesley 28 79

Husson 43 95

3-pt. goals – Lesley (9-19): Stevens 3-4, Chamblain 2-4, Chatman 1-1, Drayton 1-2, Lush 1-3, Parker 1-5; Husson (9-19): Bradford 4-4, Figueroa 2-2, Lee 2-3, Muzzy 0-1, Kissinger 0-4, Harvey 1-5

Attendance: 550 (est.)