GORHAM, Maine  – Junior Thomas Whelan (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) reached a career milestone, scoring his 1,000th career point in Southern Maine's impressive 91-76 victory over Eastern Connecticut State. The Huskies outscored the Warriors 42-33 in the second half, securing a strong conference win.

Whelan, who finished as the team's second-leading scorer with 25 points, was one of several standout performers in the game. Graduate student Bryce Lausier (Glenburn, Maine/Hampden Academy) delivered a dominant double-double, leading all scorers with 29 points and 13 rebounds. Junior Diego Colon (New Braunfels, Texas) and sophomore Brady Saunders (Brewer, Maine) also contributed, adding 13 and 12 points, respectively.

For the Warriors, Jalen Hamblin put forth a valiant effort with 23 points, but fouled out late in the second half. Esco Greene added 18 points to the Warriors' cause, but their team ultimately fell short against the Huskies' sharp execution.

The Records:
Eastern Connecticut (12-7, 4-7 Little East)
Southern Maine (9-11, 5-6 Little East)
 
 
Series History:  Today's game marked the 91st meeting between the University of Southern Maine and the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors. ECSU leads the overall series 56-35; however, Southern Maine swept the Warriors in the 2023-2024 season, and in the 2024-2025 two win four straight over ECSU.  The Huskies are 5-1 against the Warriors in their last six meetings.
 
 
How It Happened:

• Strong Start for the Huskies: Despite losing the tip-off, Southern Maine struck first with a three-pointer from Whelan, igniting a 10-2 run in the opening three minutes.
• Milestone Moment: At the 14:59 mark, Whelan stepped to the free-throw line and sank his 1,000th career point, an unforgettable moment in his collegiate career.
• Warriors Fight Back: The Huskies' early lead was tested when Eastern Connecticut State responded with a 14-4 run, fueled by foul shots from Dominick Dao, tightening the game.
• Game Tied at 7:20: A fast-break jumper from Cedrick Similien knotted the score, shifting momentum momentarily in the Warriors' favor.
• Lausier Sparks Huskies' Lead: With 1:56 left in the first half, graduate student Bryce Lausier drained a clutch three-pointer to regain the lead. A strong finish sent USM into halftime ahead, 49-43.
• Second Half Battle: Southern Maine started the second half with possession, but a slow start allowed the Warriors to tie the game at 15:42.
• Sterling's Defensive Impact: Freshman Evans Sterling (New Sharon, Maine/Mt. Blue) provided a strong defensive presence, leading the Huskies in steals and helping to reclaim control alongside Lausier.
• Warriors' Costly Mistakes: A series of missed free throws and turnovers proved costly for Eastern Connecticut, allowing USM to capitalize on high-percentage shooting.
• Huskies Take Over: Lausier continued his dominant performance, pushing Southern Maine to a 69-59 lead with 9:45 remaining.
• Closing the Game: The Warriors kept fighting, but the Huskies outscored ECSU 15-7 in the final six minutes. The Warriors' aggressive play led to multiple fouls, including Hamblin fouling out with just over five minutes left.
• Sealing the Win: Clutch free throws from the Huskies and a three-pointer from sophomore Justin Allen (Franklin, Mass.)  in the closing minutes secured the 91-76 victory.

 
 
Inside The Stats:

• Free Throws: Southern Maine was 22-for-24 (91.7%), with Whelan a perfect 9-for-9. Eastern Connecticut finished 17-for-27 (63%), led by Dominick Dao's 5-for-5 shooting.
• Three-Point Shooting:
  • Huskies: 42.9% (9-for-21) – Led by Diego Colon (3 three-pointers).
  • Warriors: 23.8% (5-for-21) – Pedro Perry hit 50% of his attempts.
• Rebounding: Lausier dominated the boards with 13 rebounds, contributing to the Huskies' control of the game.

 
 
Up Next:
The Huskies head to UMass Boston on Wednesday, February 5 (7:00 pm) before returning home against Wester Connecticut on Saturday, February 8 (2:00 pm). 
 
 
-EF-