Husson hosting Bunyan UNE, UMPI, UMFK to play in tournament

The 2008-09 season gets bouncing this weekend for the Husson University men’s basketball team as it hosts the 41st Paul Bunyan Tournament at Newman Gym in Bangor.

The Eagles, who have lost their first three games, will host the University of New England, University of Maine-Fort Kent and University of Maine-Presque Isle teams in the four-game, two-day tournament.

Tipoff for the first game is 6 p.m. today with 2-3 UNE taking on 2-4 UMFK. Husson will take on 0-2 UMPI at 8. This is the first time the tourney has been held since 2006.

So far this season, the Eagles have been led by Brock Bradford. The junior from Kenduskeag is averaging 16.3 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 steals, and 2.5 rebounds early on. Fellow guard Blaine Meehan, a senior from Winterport, is giving Husson good backcourt production with 9.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

Husson’s frontcourt has also been productive with junior forward Matt MacKenzie of Warren averaging 14.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and senior Scott Kissinger averaging 10.7 points.

The UNE Nor’easters are led by senior forward Johnnie Jefferson, who’s averaging 15.2 points and 6.0 rebounds a game, and senior guard Jaykyri Simpson (11.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.0 apg).

The UMFK Bengals are led by senior small forward Hamill Bassue, junior guard Jimmy Lopez, and sophomore power forward Othniel Hyliger.

UMPI’s Owls have been paced by junior forward Ray Mitchell (24.5 ppg, 16 rpg), sophomore guard-forward Ronald Spencer (14.5 ppg), and freshman forward Ben Rosser (5.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg) of Caribou.

Saturday’s consolation game will start at 2 p.m. with the championship game following at 4.