Eagles Soar Past Badgers

JOHNSON, Vt. (January 31, 2009) – Husson received 25 points and 10 rebounds from junior forward Matt MacKenzie (Warren, Maine) on Saturday en route to their 81-66 defeat of Johnson State College at Carter Gym. The visitors shot a toasty 54% from the field and outrebounded the Badgers 30-24 on the day to earn their fourth straight win and sixth in seven games to maintain sole possession of first place in the North Atlantic Conference.

An Ian Passino (Peru, N.Y./Peru) jumper with 12:18 left in the first half would give Johnson State (10-7, 4-3 NAC) a 15-12 lead, their largest and last of the game. Scott Kissinger’s (Islip Terrace, N.Y.) layup with 11:30 remaining would give Husson (9-9, 6-1 NAC) the lead for good as Eagles would grab a 37-31 halftime lead.

Johnson State showed one last legitimate gasp coming out of halftime cutting the Eagle lead to one-point at 39-38 but Husson responded with a 13-2 run capped by a pair of Nick Perras (Lancaster, N.H.) 3-point field goals.

Johnson State was paced by Bobby Shedd (Johnson, Vt./Lamoille Union) and his 17 points while blocking six shots. John Foley (Valley Stream, N.Y./Holy Cross) tossed in 15 points, Passino finished with 13 points, and Leandro Martinez (Philadelphia, Penn./Holy Ghost) scored 12 points.

Joining MacKenzie in double-figures was Kissinger with 14 points and Brock Bradford (Kenduskeag, Maine) added 11 points.

Johnson State will host Castleton State College on Tuesday at 5:30 pm in their next contest while Husson travels to Maine-Farmington on Tuesday also at 5:30 pm.