For WPI's Perez, this is kid stuff.

Byline: Jennifer Toland

WORCESTER - The NCAA Division 3 tournament is nothing new for Worcester Polytechnic Institute seniors like Jerome Kirkland, but freshman forward Fernando Perez was making his first foray into the big time last night at Harrington Auditorium.

His debut went great.

Perez posted his second double-double of the season with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds to help WPI to an 86-57 rout of Husson in a first-round game.

The Engineers (21-9), making their fifth straight NCAA appearance, will host UMass-Dartmouth in the second round at 7 tonight.

It was a great bounce-back victory for WPI after last week's painful loss to Springfield in the semifinals of the NEWMAC tournament. The Engineers won the regular-season conference title and earned a first-round tourney bye, but played poorly in a 61-46 loss to the Pride.

"It was tough for us because we expected to win (the NEWMAC tourney)," Perez said. "(Before last night's game), our seniors got us together in a circle and talked about how we have to stay together and if anyone leaves the circle, we break apart. It brought us together."

Perez, who averaged 7.3 points and 4.5 rebounds during the season, was held to 2 points in the Springfield loss. He also was sick, so it was a tough week.

"This was big for Fernando," WPI coach Chris Bartley said of his play last night. "I think he really got himself going and it's big when a freshman comes into his first NCAAs and has an experience like this. He has to use it as a springboard for (tonight)."

Kirkland, who was named to the All-NEWMAC first team earlier this week, led WPI with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Sophomore guard Jeffrey Robinson added 11 points and freshman center Matt Carr had 10.

The real story, though, was defense.

Husson was the 12th team that WPI held under 60 points this season. The Eagles shot 35 percent and were pressured into 22 turnovers.

"When we focus and lock in defensively, it gives us a lot of positive energy and it spills over to our offense," Bartley said.

WPI had the NEWMAC's best scoring defense this season.

The Engineers limited Husson junior forward Matt McKenzie, who was averaging almost 19 points a game, to 9. WPI took some charges on him early and he got into foul trouble (three in the first half) before eventually fouling out.

WPI started fast, making five of its first eight shots and forcing four Husson turnovers in the first four minutes. Senior NT Izuchi's 3-pointer put WPI up by 10 with 11:20 left in the half.

The Eagles (16-12) cut the deficit in half with 9:08 left, prompting Bartley to call a 30-second timeout.

"I didn't like the looks on our faces when they switched to zone," said Bartley, whose team struggled last weekend against Springfield's zone. "It's like an evil thing in the back of our minds since last Saturday. I thought we were making too much of a deal out of it. I said, `Let's just do what we do.'"

Izuchi buried a 3-pointer coming out of the timeout and WPI ended the half on a 19-8 run to take a 42-24 lead.

"The timeout got us focused," Kirkland said.

Bennett Lessard and Kyle Nadeau combined to score the first seven points of the second half, and Perez, Ben Etten and Nadeau keyed an 11-1 run to put WPI up by 25 with 11 minutes left.

Husson, the North Atlantic Conference champ, was making its first NCAA appearance.

NAME: WORCESTER POLUTECHNIC INSTITUTE

ART: PHOTOS

PHOTOG: T&G Staff/PAUL KAPTEYN

CUTLINE: (1) WPI's Ben Etten drives past Husson's Nick Perras in the first half. (2) From left, Husson's Brock Bradford and WPI's NT Izuchi battle for a loose ball.