BANGOR, Maine — Trevon Butler failed to make a field goal in the first half of Saturday’s North Atlantic Conference final against Colby-Sawyer.
In the second half, he almost could not miss.
Husson University’s senior forward, the NAC Player of the Year, went 7-for-9 from the 3-point arc in the second half on his way to a team-high 27 points, carrying the top-seeded Eagles to a 94-77 victory over the No. 2 Chargers in the NAC men’s championship game at Newman Gymnasium.
It was the fourth league title in the last six seasons for coach Warren Caruso’s Eagles (21-6), who earn the NAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament. Husson will find out its matchup during Monday’s selection show.
Butler was selected as the tournament MVP and was joined on the the all-tourney team by teammates Raheem Anderson, Peter Donato and Taylor Grande of Colby-Sawyer, Levis Barnes of Thomas and Johnson State’s Raheem Bunch.
Butler also contributed 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals for Husson, which received 22 points and eight assists from Anderson. Darryl Wood provided 12 points and five rebounds and Eli Itkin tallied 10 points and four assists.
The Eagles shot 60 percent from the field (38-for-63), including 13-for-27 (48 percent) from 3-point range.
Colby-Sawyer (19-7), the 2015 NAC champion, was led by Peter Donato’s 31-point, 10-rebound performance. Wol Majong (5 assists, 4 steals) finished with 14 points and Milani Hicks (5 rebounds) posted 13 points.
The Chargers went 5-for-29 (17 percent) from the 3-point arc, outscored Husson 18-5 from the foul line and committed only eight turnovers.
The Eagles led 52-42 with 13:02 to play when Butler asserted himself. He buried five consecutive 3-pointers during a span of less than three minutes, outdueling seven straight points from Donato to stake Husson to a 67-49 advantage with 9:48 to play.
The Eagles keep the confidence and energy going and closed out the win.