Contributions from Eleanor Folsom, Athletic Communications Student Employee
GORHAM, Maine – Ending the 2024-2025 season with a comprehensive 110-89 win on the road at VTSU-Castleton, the University of Southern Maine Huskies' men's basketball team finished the Little East Conference portion of their schedule with an 8-8 record, locking up the fifth seed in the upcoming 2025 Little East Conference men's basketball championship tournament. 
 
As the fifth seed, the Huskies will travel to fourth seed UMass Boston Beacons on Tuesday, February 25 (7:00 pm) for a quarterfinal match up.  The Huskies have put together a strong season, driven by standout performances from key players, including the dynamic duo of grad uadstudent Bryce Lausier (Glenburn, Maine/Hampden Academy) and junior Thomas Whelan (Bronx, NY;Fordham Prep), and sophomore Brady Saunders (Brewer, Maine).
 
Adding to the Huskies' depth, a pair of freshmen have stepped up in crucial moments, earning well-deserved minutes and making an immediate impact in Evans Sterling (New Sharon, Maine/ Mount Blue) and Noah Herbert (New Gloucester, ME, Gray-New Gloucester) – both who have been impressive, delivering big plays when it matters most.
 
Despite having a young and relatively new coaching staff, Interim Head Coach Mikey Coppersmith has proven that the Huskies remain a force to be reckoned with. His leadership has kept the team competitive and poised for a strong postseason run.


Averaging 83.2 points per game as a team, the Huskies have eclipsed the 100-point barrier three times this season, and their 110 points against the Spartans to close out the regular season is the highest point total of the 2024-2025 season. 
 
Southern Maine split the regular season series with the Beacons, earning an 82-77 win on the road on January 8, and dropping an 87-82 decision at home on February 5.  In the the Huskies' win on the road, Lausier scored a game-high 34 points and snagged 16 rebounds for one of his conference leading 19 double-doubles.  Whelan added 19 points, while sophomore Justin Allen (Franklin, Mass.) tossed in 11 points. 
 
The Beacons (13-11 overall, 8-8 LEC) have averaged 77.6 points per game this season and are led by senior Emanuel Zayas' 16.3 points per game. Freshmen Xavier McKenzie and Raphel Lauren are also averaging double-digits in scoring at 15.2 and 12.9 points per game.  Laurent and Zayas each had 18 points, while McKenzie dropped 15 in the Beacons win at Southern Maine.
 
The Tuesday night quarterfinal match up between Southern Maine and UMass Boston will mark the 116^th meeting between the two schools.  Southern Maine leads the overall series, 69-47. Both teams are dead even at 5-5 in the last 10 meetings, dating back to the 2019-2020 season.
 
 
2025 Little East Conference Men's Basketball Championship Tournament
Who: No. 5 Southern Maine at No. 4 UMass Boston Beacons
When: Tuesday, February 25 – 7:00 PM
Where: University of Massachusetts Boston – Clark Athletic Center
What: Quarterfinal round.
 
No. 5 Southern Maine (12-13 overall; 8-8 Little East)
Championships: 1 (1989)
LEC Tournament Record: 16-29 (.359), 28 appearances
Finals Appearances: 6    Finals Record: 1-5   Last Finals Appearance: 2000
 
Players to Watch: Bryce Lausier, Gr., Guard 22.4 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 3.4 apg. 1 spg, 39.4 3FG%; Thomas Whelan, Jr. Guard 22.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.5 spg 34.8 3FG%; Brady Saunders, So., Guard 14.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3 apg, 0.9 spg, 42.7 3FG%; Diego Colon, Jr., Guard, 10.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg; 1.3 apg; 34.5 3FG%

Final 2025 LEC Men's Basketball Standings
1. Keene State (14-2)
2. WestConn (13-3)
3. Rhode Island College (10-6)
4. UMass Boston (8-8)
5. Southern Maine (8-8)
6. UMass Dartmouth (6-10)
7. Eastern Connecticut (5-11)
8. Plymouth State (5-11)
9. VTSU Castleton (3-13)
  
First Round - Tuesday - Feb. 25
No. 3 RIC hosts No. 6 UMass Dartmouth - 7 PM
No. 4 UMass Boston hosts No. 5 Southern Maine - 7 PM
 
Semifinals - Thursday - Feb. 27
No. 1 Keene State hosts No. 4/5 Winner - 7 PM
No. 2 WestConn hosts No. 3/6 Winner - 6 PM
 
Final - Saturday - March 1
Semifinal Winners at highest remaining seed

-cac-