BANGOR, Maine - Johnson State fell to Husson University 81-69 Tuesday night. The second-seeded Husson Eagles men's basketball team will advance to their 18th conference semifinal in the last 19 seasons.

Andy Bousono (Philadelphia, Penn.) was the big scorer for the Badgers with 17 points while senior Cory Chase (Milton, Vt.) supplied 15, and Asim Khan (Torrance, CA) notched 10 points. Junior Bryan Hickey (Barre, Vt.) tied Husson's Modica for a game-high 9 rebounds, and Chase and Cody Camisa (Colchester, Vt.) each grabbed 6 off the glass.

Senior Marc Zaharchuk (Richmond, Maine) led the hosts with a game-high 20 points and eight rebounds. Teammate and fellow senior Eric Modica (Kittery, Maine) chipped in 12 points, 5 assists and a game-high nine rebounds while senior Wes Murphy (Norwich, CT) scored 11 points.

The Badgers shot 44% from the field to the Eagles 37% in what proved to be a close first half. Husson kept the lead, but the Badgers fought them basket-for-basket and brought it within two points heading into the locker rooms with the score at 34-32.

Johnson State came out fighting in the second half and tied it up at 39-39 off a Chase (jumper before taking the lead at 47-46. It was a back-and-forth game until Husson grabbed a 65-58 lead off a Corey Wood (Laurel, Md.) three-pointer with 6:45 left, and the Eagles pulled away to an 81-69 victory. Husson improved their field goal percentage to 53% for the second half while the Badgers stayed at 44%.

This ends the season for the visiting Badgers as Husson moves on to face Colby-Sawyer College, the winner of the 3 vs. 6 matchup in a Friday, February 22 game at Maine-Farmington. The winner of that will compete in the final the next day.