BANGOR, Maine – Husson University (1-0) tipped Saint Joseph's College (0-1), 68-66, in a non-conference men's basketball contest on Thursday night. Senior guard Steve Simonds (Steep Falls, Maine) dropped a game-high 26 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the Monks' season-opening setback.

The hard fought contest featured 15 lead changes and six tie scores, but the Eagles managed to hold off the Monks in the closing minutes to collect the win. Trailing 52-46 with 12:14 left in the second half, Saint Joseph's rattled off a 14-6 run to earn a 60-58 lead with 7:39 remaining. Freshman forward Quinn Richardson-Newton (Saco, Maine) made a layup to cap the Monks' offensive outburst.

Husson quickly countered with three-pointers from Raheem Anderson and Mitch Worcester on consecutive possessions to claim a 64-60 cushion with 6:27 on the clock, but Simonds answered with a three of his own a minute later to make it a one-point proposition.

Scoring was at a premium in the last five minutes, as the in-state rivals combined to score just seven points leading up to the 68-66 final score. Aaron Willis and Trevon Butler connected on jumpers to extend the hosts' lead to 68-63 with 1:19 left and the Monks responded with a Jordan Tripp (Maspeth, N.Y.) freebie and a Simonds bucket to create some late drama, but a Simonds three-point bid at the buzzer was off the mark.

For Saint Joseph's, Richardson-Newton tallied 11 points and three rebounds in his first collegiate contest while senior Zach Blodgett (Glenburn, Maine) and sophomore Andrew Ruffen (Salem, N.H.) turned in similar stat lines with eight points and four caroms apiece. Junior Jerome Diggs (Washington, D.C.) registered six points, seven rebounds and five assists and junior guard Craig Lushenat (Boston, Mass.) chipped in six points in a losing effort.

Butler was the Eagles' top scorer with 19 points while Anderson contributed 14 points off the bench and Eli Itkin netted 11 to help Husson open the new season with a victory.

Saint Joseph's hosts Bowdoin College in the team's 2014-15 home-opener at 3:00 PM on Saturday while Husson is off until next Saturday when the Eagles play host to Bates College in a 4:00 PM tip-off.