DEFENDING CHAMPS SET TO TIP IN REMATCH OF LAST YEAR'S NEAC CHAMPIONSHIP
AURORA, N.Y. -- The regular season is complete and the field is set for the 2012 North Eastern Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Championship Tournament. The tournament will be held on the campus of No. 1 seed Morrisville State this weekend Feb. 25-26 in Morrisville, N.Y.
The defending NEAC champions Wells Express earned the third overall seed and their fourth straight NEAC tournament appearance, ending the season with a seven game conference winning streak, finishing second in the NEAC North Division with a record of 14-11 (11-4 NEAC). Wells will take on No. 2 seed Penn. St. Harrisburg on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. in a rematch of last years thrilling NEAC Championship game in which the Express captured their first conference crown and NCAA Tournament appearance with a 75-72 overtime victory against the Nittany Lions.
Harrisburg finished the season first in the NEAC South Division with a record of 19-6 (12-2 NEAC) which included a 69-66 triumph over the Express back on January 14 in Harrisburg. However, since then the Express have won 10 of 11 games to close out the regular season, including seven straight victories.
Morrisville State, who finished with program-best records of 14-1 in the conference and 17-8 overall, won the NEAC North Division and earned the right to host this weekends tournament. Morrisville will take on the winner of tonight's quarterfinal round game between No. 5 Gallaudet University and No. 4 Penn. St. Berks on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 4 p.m. in Morrisville.
Penn. St. Berks claimed second place in the NEAC South Division with a 9-5 conference record (10-13 overall) thanks to seven straight conference victories to close out the season. Gallaudet earned the fifth and final spot in the tournament finishing third in the NEAC South Division with an 8-6 conference record (11-12 overall).
Morrisville State College will be webcasting each tournament game live over the internet. Each game can be accessed by clicking here.
Complete NEAC Championship Schedule:
Quarterfinal Game - Tuesday, February 21
Game 1: Gallaudet University @ Penn State Berks – 8 p.m.
Semifinals @ Morrisville State - Saturday, February 25
Game 2 (2 p.m.): Penn State Harrisburg vs. Wells College
Game 3 (4 p.m.): Morrisville State vs. winner of Game 1 (Gallaudet/Berks)
Championship @ Morrisville State - Sunday, February 26