The win was the third straight for the Huskies (5-3), who travel to Salem State College on Saturday. The Nor'easters (3-5) conclude first-semester play on Thursday when they play host to Mount Ida College at 6:00 p.m.
The Huskies shot 56.7 percent (17 of 30) in the first half to assume a 42-32 advantage. Foster Oakley '07 (Farmington, Maine) scored 10 of his 12 points in the opening stanza to help USM to its advantage.
UNE chipped away in the second half, drawing even (62-62) on Isaac Stickney's '08 (Rumford, Maine) 3-pointer with 5:01 remaining.
After the two teams traded free throws, Southern Maine went on a 7-0 run to take control. Daniels had a lay-up, then after Andy Frost '08 (Brewer, Maine) made 1 of 2 free throws, Jesse McKinnell '06 (Manomet, Mass.) and Daniels scored from inside the paint to give the Huskies a 70-63 advantage with 1:11 left.
USM made 3 of 4 free throw attempts in the final 12 seconds to ice the contest.
Frost finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and three steals for the winners, while McKinnell had 11 points and six rebounds. Bill Hardwick '06 (Boothbay, Maine) was 5-for-6 from the floor for 10 points.
For UNE, Stickney was 9 of 12 from the field en route to a game-high 20 points. He added seven boards and a career-best six blocked shots. Matt McManus '06 (Cumberland, R.I.) made five 3-pointers and had 18 points.