PRESQUE ISLE, ME
The UMPI and Husson Men's Basketball teams have clashed many times in recent years with the last four seasons series tied at 4 wins apiece. Husson would make it a third straight Eagles victory over the Owls, as their star Riles Neff took flight in the second half, turning a one-point halftime lead into a 21-point victory.
How it Happened:
The first half of this game delivered one of the best atmospheres Wieden has ever produced. Both sides of the crowd were into the game and was especially rocking when UMPI went on their runs throughout that first 20 minutes. It was the ideal environment for college basketball in Maine. Despite this, the game started out slowly. Husson got out to an 8-3 lead through the first five minutes as the Eagles controlled.
UMPI bounced back with a run to take a one-point lead at 9-8 before the teams traded hoops for a couple possessions. UMPI got the crowd back into it after a good few plays by Aleix Moreno to make it 13-10 the back-and-forth momentum continued as Husson went on a six-point run to go up 16-13. UMPI then made their biggest run of the game, firing off eight points in a row thanks to a couple three-pointers to make it 21-16.
As the first half progressed, the Eagles took the game's biggest lead with under a minute left, 33-26. Coach Kane took a timeout to try and close out the half on a good note for the Owls. They would do just that, as Gilbert Jean Mendez delivered a three, followed by an UMPI stop and then an Akhe McMichael trey to beat the buzzer. The Owls closed the gap to one point.
This game, like so many other battles with Husson in the past, became a tale of two halves.
In the second half, the Eagles would heat up, shooting 52% from the field as opposed to their 32% mark in the first half. Specifically Riles Neff, who was held somewhat in check with six points in the first half, absolutely took the game over in the second half. He finished the day with 27 points, making 12 of 21 field goals and three three-pointers.
The Owls were unable to find an answer for Neff in the isolation, and also struggled to make shots as they shot 37% from the field in the second half. UMPI finished the day at 36% a season low by far.
The Eagles ran away with it down the stretch, getting it to a ten point lead seven minutes into the half, and they'd grow it to 18 points with under seven to go. This day, there would be no crazy Owl comeback like the night prior, and the Eagles took the game by a final score of 81-60.
Top Performers:
UMPI was led by Akhe McMichael's 14 points. McMichael went 6-14 from the field and 2-4 from three. Gilbert Jean Mendez supported his effort with 12 points, also going 2-4 from three-point range. Saquan Carswell had nine points and 10 rebounds. The Owls had some production from the bench as five other players scored, highlighted by Logan Migliori's seven points in four minutes.
Next Up:
The Owls drop to 16-5 overall and 8-3 in the North Atlantic Conference. They will get their first non-conference game in nearly a month when they go on the road to UMFK for a 7:30 p.m. start.
