WELLS ADVANCES TO THIRD STRAIGHT NEAC CHAMPIONSHIP

(Harrisburg, Pa.)─ The Wells College men's basketball team (15-11, 13-5 NEAC) battled back from an early second half deficit to knock off the two-time defending North Eastern Athletic Conference Champion No. 2 SUNY IT (14-11, 13-5 NEAC) by a score of 73-69 on Saturday afternoon in Middleton, Pa. With the victory the Express advance to their third-straight NEAC Championship game and will take on host and No. 1 seed Penn. St. Harrisburg (15-10, 14-4 NEAC) at 1 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.  Harrisburg defeated No. 4 Gallaudet 96-91 in overtime of the late afternoon game to advance to Sunday's championship.
 
It was a total team effort for the Express, who had four different player score in double figures. Andre Sawyers (Bronx, N.Y./Mt. St. Michaels) led the Express with 18 points and six rebounds. Terry Harrison (Brooklyn, N.Y./Forest Hills) added 15 points and six rebounds, Benito Perez (Crystal City, Texas/Crystal City) finished with 14 points and Mabior Mayen (Syracuse, N.Y./Nottingham) chipped in with 12 points and nine rebounds.
 
NEAC Player of Year David Golembiowski led the Wildcats with 27 points and nine rebounds, while Kevin Cappiello finished with 10 points.
 
It was a tight game from start to finish. The Express rushed out to a quick 10-3 lead but the seven point cushion would be the largest of the game as both teams traded shots before entering halftime with the Wildcats leading 39-37.
 
The Wildcats extended their lead to seven early in the second half and would lead by that margin (60-53) as late as 10:34 to play. The Express took over from there. Perez hit a 3-pointer and Mayen finished two straight lay-ups, sparking Wells to a 10-2 run and a 63-62 lead with five minutes to play.
 
The Expess extended their lead to four (70-66) with less than a minute to play. The Wildcats pulled themselves to within one (70-69) on a 3-pointer from Julian Bostic but on the ensuing play Harrison drew a foul and subsequently hit both free-throws to extend Wells' lead to three (72-69). The Wildcats would have a chance to tie the game but Golembiowski missed a 3-pointer and Express guard Dave Foltz hit one of two free-throws with six seconds remaining to seal the victory.
 
The winner of tomorrow's NEAC Championship games earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Men' Basketball Championship Tournament.