Point guard Kadare Brown was instrumental in the win, posting his first career double-double
Box Score
BIDDEFORD, Maine -- University of New England sophomore Anthony Johnson (Austin, Texas) led four players in double figures with 20 points, and the Nor'easters pulled away early in the second half on their way to a 79-67 win over Husson University in non-conference men's basketball action Tuesday evening at the Campus Center.
Johnson scored 13 of his team-high 20 points in the first half and finished the contest with three 3-point field goals, seven rebounds and four assists. Junior point guard Kadare Brown (Baton Rouge, La.) played a strong all-around game with 10 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and five steals. First-year Anthony Coleman (Austin, Texas) and junior Chas Rentrope (Peoria, Ariz.) came off the bench to contribute 13 and 11 points, respectively. Coleman was 6-for-9 from the floor and blocked a pair of shots for the Nor'easters (7-9).
Senior Matt McKenzie (Warren, Maine) scored 20 points to pace Husson (10-6). Classmate Brock Bradford (Kenduskeag, Maine) tossed in 17, while sophomore Joshua Jones (Jefferson, Maine) was a force inside, posting 10 points, 20 boards and three rejections.
The Eagles would lead for much of the first half, jumping out to an early 10-2 lead. After the Nor'easters recovered to square the game at 12, Husson enjoyed a 10-3 run to lead by eight (23-15) with 6:42 remaining in the frame.
UNE close the half by outscoring the visitors 18-8 to take a 33-31 cushion into intermission. Johnson tallied eight points during the spurt.
A layup by McKenzie and a pair of buckets by junior Jay Uhrin (Hampden, Maine) put the Eagles back on top (37-36) in the opening minute of the second stanza, but a layup by Johnson gave the Nor'easters the lead for good on their next possession.
Johnson's conversion ignited a 18-1 run that enabled UNE to build a 16-point advantage (54-38) halfway through the frame. The Nor'easters held the guests without a field goal for nearly 10 minutes in the second half to help forge their lead.
Husson would get as close as eight (61-53) with 6:39 to play, but UNE was able to fend off any hopes of an Eagle comeback.
Both teams struggled from the floor and free throw stripe. Husson shot 36.5 percent (23 of 63) from the field and 58.6 percent (17 of 29) from the line, while the Nor'easters made 35.7 percent (25 of 70) of their field goal attempts and 46.2 percent (18 of 39) of their freebies.
UNE returns to action Thursday with a The Commonwealth Coast Conference road game at Regis College. Husson hosts Johnson State College on Friday.
