With the win the Huskies move to 2-1 in the Little East and improve their overall record to 8-5. It is the Huskies best start through 13 games since the 1998-99 season when Southern Maine was also 8-5 in as many contests. The loss drops the Colonials to 0-3 in the LEC and 7-5 on the season.
Daniels, who set a previous career-high earlier in the season with 24 points against Salem State, finished the game shooting 11-for-18 from the field, including a 4-for-7 effort from beyond the three-point range. Daniels, who tallied just seven first-half points, was nearly unstoppable in the second stanza, including a key seven-point spurt in the final three minutes of the second half to seal the win for Southern Maine.
With the Huskies lead cut to two points, 66-64, following three-pointer from Western Connecticut senior guard Greg Cole (Meriden, Conn./Platt) with 3:55 to play, Daniels rattled off seven of his game-high 31 points on a driving lay-up, short jumper and a deep three from the top of the key as the shot clock sounded to give the Huskies 73-66 cushion.
With 28 seconds remaining the Huskies held on for the win, knocking down two of its four free throw attempts for the 75-70 final.
Joining Daniels in double-digit scoring for the Huskies was senior forward Bill Hardwick (Boothbay, Maine/Boothbay Region) and sophomore guard Andy Frost (Brewer, Maine/Brewer). Hardwick was 7-for-11 from the free throw line en route to 13 points for the Huskies, while Frost chipped in with 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists and five steals in a solid all-around effort.
Cole finished with a team-high 20 points for the Colonials, shooting 8-for-17 from the floor while knocking down three three-pointers. Senior forward Jason Barnett (Windsor, Conn./Northeast Catholic) added a double-double for Western Connecticut scoring 12 points and grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds.
Both teams played evenly with Southern Maine holding a slight edge in shooting and rebounding. The Huskies finished the game shooting 45.8 percent (27-for-59) while Western Connecticut shot a comparable 43.1 percent (28-for-65). On the boards, the Huskies edged the Colonials 38-37. The difference in the game came on the free throw line as the Huskies knocked down 16 of 24 attempts (66.7 percent). Western Connecticut went to the free throw line 15 times in the game, making 10 of its shots (66.7 percent).
Southern Maine returns to action at home Tuesday (Jan. 10) versus Little East Conference opponent Rhode Island College. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Western Connecticut will host LEC foe Keene State University at 7:30 p.m. on the same date.