GORHAM, Maine   -  Senior Thomas Whelan (Bronx, NY/Fordham Prep) had a season-high 34 points adding five rebounds and five assists to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to an 85-82 win over the UMaine Farmington Beavers in a non-conference men's basketball game Wednesday night at Hill Gym.
 
Whelan was 14-for-21 for his game-high total to lead three players in double-figures.  Sophomore Evans Sterling (New Sharon, Maine/Mt. Blue) had 18 points and seven rebounds, while freshman Carter Galley (Owls Head, Maine/Kents Hill/Oceanside) added 11 points, six rebounds and two assists off of the bench.  Sophomore Noah Dowling (North Narrabeen, Australia/Saint Augstine's (Sydney)) hauled down a game and career-high 15 boards to go with seven points.
 
Zach McLaughlin led UMF with 28 points on 11-for-22 shooting.  Jason Reynolds added a double-double with 19 points and a team-high 12 rebounds, while Charlie Houghton had 11 points eight rebounds and four assists.  Bryden St. Pierre tossed in seven points to go with eight boards, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots.
 
The Records:
UMaine Farmington (7-3)
Southern Maine (5-5)
 
Today's contest marked the 103rd match-up between the University of Southern Maine Huskies and the UMaine Farmington Beavers. The Huskies lead the overall series 75-28. Southern Maine has won three of the last four meetings after losing five consecutively from 2019 through 2021.  Last season, Southern Maine defeated the Beavers 103-90.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Whelan scored twice on driving layups to open the game before UMF countered with a layup from McLaughlin and a three from St. Pierre to make it a 5-4 game.  After the quick start both teams battled back and forth and the game was tied at 25 with 8:40 to go in the half.
• With the score tied up, Whelan drove to the basket for a layup starting a 15-2 run for the Huskies over the next 5:05 of play, putting the Huskies up 38-27 with 3:35 on the clock.  Galley scored nine of his 11 points in the run, including a three on an assist from Whelan for the 38-27 lead. Both teams exchanged buckets in the final minutes as USM led 40-29 at the break.
• Southern Maine continued to cruise in the second half and snagged its largest lead of the game, 54-37, on a three from Whelan at the 14:38 mark. The Huskies and Beavers exchanged scores over the next several possessions and Whelan kept USM in front by 17, 63-46, with a short jumper at the 10:18 mark before the Beavers rattled off a 15-4 run to trail by two possessions, 67-61, with 7:26 to play.
• After back-to-back jumpers from McLaughlin made it a two-possession deficit for UMF, Sterling scored five straight for the Huskies to extend their lead back to double-digits, 72-61 with 6:43 to go.
• The Huskies stayed in front by double-digits and led by 10, 76-66, on a layup from Whelan, but again the Beavers rallied, outscoring Southern Maine 13-6 over the next 3:30.  A layup from Gabe Michaud had the Beavers within two, 82-80, with seven second to play. Forced to foul, Whelan was able to hit two free throws to keep USM in front 84-80, but McLaughin was able to score yet again with two second to go for another two-point game, 84-82.  Whelan made one of two free throws on the next possession, and UMF was unable to score for the 85-82 final.

 
Inside The Statistics:

• Southern Maine shot 55 percent (33-for-60) from the field and made 14-of-19 free throws in the game.  UMaine Farmington shot 40.3 percent (31-for-77) and was 10-for-31 from three.
• Southern Maine led in rebounds 44-37 largely in part to Dowling's career-best 15 boards.  UMF had a 13-8 advantage in offensive boards and scored 11 second-chance points.
• Southern Maine turned the ball over 17 times, while UMF made just nine turnovers.  The Beavers scored 16 points off of Husky miscues.

 
 
Up Next:
Southern Maine closes out 2025 on the road at Maine Maritime Academy on Tuesday, December 30 (2:00 pm).
           
 
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