MBB Set to Host ENC in NECC Semifinals
NEW LONDON, Conn. - Mitchell College hosts Eastern Nazarene College in the semifinals of the 2020 New England Collegiate Conference Men's Basketball Championship on Thursday night.
The second-seeded Mariners, the defending NECC champs, went 8-4 during league action and are making their eighth-straight appearance (and ninth overall) in the conference tournament. Mitchell is 7-6 all-time in tournament play with titles in 2014 and 2019.
The third-seeded Lions also went 8-4 in league action this season and are making their second appearance in the tournament. Eastern Nazarene was upset in last year's semifinals and is 0-1 all-time in the tournament.
This Season: The two teams split the regular season series, with each winning on their home floor. The Lions won 84-75 on January 29 while the Mariners closed out the regular season with a 73-58 victory on February 22.
In the Tournament: Tonight's meeting will be the first between Mitchell and Eastern Nazarene in the NECC Championship.
Scouting Eastern Nazarene: The Pilgrims are coming off an overtime win over sixth-seeded Becker College on Tuesday night. Jacob Waldroop made one of two at the free throw line with .1 seconds remaining in regulation to force the extra frame, where ENC staved off the upset by outscoring the Hawks 10-6. Third-year head coach Scott Polsgrove has led his team to a 14-12 overall record this season. The Lions shoot the three-pointer better than any team in the NECC (.382) and also rank fourth in the league in scoring (76.0 ppg) and second in scoring defense (73.8). Garrett Crandell, an all-conference first team selection, leads the team in scoring (15.3 ppg) and rebounding (5.0 ppg) while Josh Rice (12.5 ppg) and Noah Cheney (12.0 ppg) also average double digits in scoring.
Scouting Mitchell: The Mariners enter the tournament having won seven of their last 10 games. Mitchell went 7-3 at home during the regular season and went unbeaten in conference action. Head coach Todd Peretz, now in his 21st season, led his squad to an 11-14 overall record. Mitchell ranks third in the NECC in both scoring (79.5 ppg) and scoring defense (77.8 ppg). All-conference selections Hasani Williams (15.1 ppg) and Matt Finke (14.0) pace a balanced offense that features nine players who average more than 5.0 points per contest.
2020 NECC Men's Basketball Championship
First Round - Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Game 1: #6 Becker 70, #3 Eastern Nazarene 74 (OT)
Game 2: #5 Elms 77, #4 Dean 89
Semifinals - Thursday, February 27, 2020
Game 3: #3 Eastern Nazarene at #2 Mitchell- 7:00 p.m.
Game 4: #4 Dean at #1 New England Col. – 8:00 p.m.
Championship - Saturday, February 29, 2020
Game 5: Semifinal Winners at the highest remaining seed- TBA