Husson captures 2024 NAC Men’s Basketball Title
COBLESKILL, New York – The Husson Eagles are crowned the 2023-2024 North Atlantic Conference Men’s Basketball Champions after taking down SUNY Cobleskill 80-70 in the championship game.
The win gives Husson University (23-5) their ninth conference title since 2009 and are set to make an appearance to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship. The Eagles will learn their first-round destination and opponent when the full tournament bracket is unveiled on Monday, Feb. 26, at 1:00 p.m. via webstream on NCAA.com.
Husson would get on the board first after a pair of free throw attempts from Andre McCauley. After a 7-2 head start for Husson, Cobleskill would then pull ahead of the Eagles minutes later, giving themselves a 9-7 lead. However, this lead would be short lived as Husson’s Derek Collin gave the Eagles their lead back with a shot from beyond the arc.
Throughout the first half, Cobleskill would find themselves behind but was able to get back within one possession of the Eagles. Husson had their biggest lead of the first half with 1:15 left on the clock, up 41-29. Cobleskill was able to cut their deficit by seven, ending the first half 41-34.
McCauley racked up 12-points in the first half for Husson, with Cobleskill’s Iziah Pigott leading the Fighting Tigers with 11-points.
At the start of the second half, Husson would continue to knock down shots and Cobleskill would find themselves down by double digit figures. At the 14-minute mark, Cobleskill dropped Husson’s lead to five with the help of Markel Jenkin’s layup in the paint and a jumper and three-pointer from Kobe Long.
Unfortunately for Cobleskill, this would be the closest they would get to Husson for the remainder of the frame, as Husson continued to dominate on both ends of the court. Cobleskill, struggled knocking down shots from behind the arc, only making six of their 23 attempts. Husson would convert 19 of their 80 points on fast breaks and 13-points coming off on Cobleskill’s turnovers.
Five players scored in double digit figures for Husson. Scott Lewis tallied 16-points, going 6 for 6 at the free throw line while also recording six blocked shots and three steals. Eric Ahlers would score a career high 16-points, shooting 50% from field goal range and scoring four of his eight three-point attempts. McCauley would go on to have a 15-point performance, while Jeremy Moronta would end the game with a double-double performance with 11-points and 13 rebounds, along with eight assists and five steals. Riles Neff finished with 11-points, and five assists and rebounds.
Kobe Long (NAC Rookie of the Year) would lead Cobleskill with 20-points. Markel Jenkins posted a double-double performance of 12-points and a career high 19 rebounds, with Pigott also scoring double digit figures with 11-points to go along with his eight rebounds and four assists.
Moronta was tabbed for Tournament MVP honors and was named to the All-Tournament team. He was joined by McCauley and Ahlers from Husson, Long and Jenkins from SUNY Cobleskill, Dylan Griffin from East Division semifinalist UMaine-Farmington, and Isiah Barnes from West Division semifinalist SUNY Delhi.