Franklin Pierce Upsets Pace in NE10 Semifinal.
MANSFIELD, Mass. - No. 1-seeded Bentley and No. 2-seeded Franklin Pierce will meet in the Northeast-10 Conference Men's Basketball Championship final on Sunday, following semifinal victories on Thursday night. The game will take place as part of an "NE10 Championship Doubleheader" at the Dana Center, as the Bentley women's team also earned the right to host following the results of Thursday's semifinal contests.
The NE10 Women's Basketball Championship final will begin at 12 p.m., with the Men's Basketball Championship final scheduled to start at 3 p.m. For the most updated spectator policy at Bentley University, click HERE. Admission will be $5 for fans and free for NE10 students with an ID.
Bentley had three players score 20 points or more in its 81-65 semifinal win over reigning NE10 champion Saint Anselm, led by Mason Webb and his 22 points. Franklin Pierce's Isaiah Moore, the NE10 Player of the Year, posted a game-high 25 points to lead the Ravens past top-seeded Pace on the road.
The Championship final will be streamed live and for free on NE10 NOW - the Conference's digital platform.
No. 1 Bentley (NE) 81, No. 3 Saint Anselm (NE) 65 - Box Score
WALTHAM, Mass. – Senior guard Mason Webb, sophomore guard Zach Laput and graduate guard Jordan Mello-Klein all scored at least 20 as Bentley University moved on to the Northeast-10 Conference Men's Basketball Championship final with an 81-65 semifinal win over Saint Anselm College Thursday night at the Dana Center.
Bentley, ranked first in the NCAA Division II East Regional and 16th nationally, improved to 21-4 on the season. The Falcons will take on Franklin Pierce, an 81-75 winner at Pace University, Sunday at 2 p.m. as they search for their first NE10 tournament championship since 2008.
No. 2 Franklin Pierce (NE) 81, No. 1 Pace (SW) 75 - Box Score
PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Franklin Pierce men's basketball team punched its ticket to the NE10 Championship round on Thursday evening after some late-game magic helped the Ravens pull off and secure an upset win in the semifinal round, toppling the Southwest Division's No. 1-seed Pace University by a final score of 81-75.
For Franklin Pierce, this will be just its second trip to the NE10 Championship, and the first time since the 2012-13 season. Isaiah Moore scored a game-high 25 points, while Maxwell Zegarowski netted 20 in the victory. The Ravens will travel to play Bentley, the Northeast Division's top seed, on Sunday at 2 p.m.
NE10 MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round - Friday, February 25th:
Game 2: #7 NE Saint Michael's at #2 SW New Haven – *Declared a "no contest" due to established institutional and conference COVID-19 health protocols. New Haven advances.
Game 4: #6 NE Assumption 80, #3 SW Adelphi 69
Game 5: #4 NE Stonehill 58, #5 SW Le Moyne 52
First Round - Saturday, February 26th:
Game 6: #4 SW Saint Rose 80, #5 NE Southern New Hampshire 76
Game 1: #2 NE Franklin Pierce 86, #7 SW American International 82
Game 3: #3 NE Saint Anselm 84, #6 SW Southern Connecticut 65
Quarterfinals - Monday, February 28th:
Game 7: #1 SW Pace 83, #4 NE Stonehill 73
Game 8: #1 NE Bentley 93, #4 SW Saint Rose 65
Game 9: #2 NE Franklin Pierce 86, #6 NE Assumption 73
Game 10: #3 NE Saint Anselm 81, #2 SW New Haven 79 (OT)
Semifinals - Thursday, March 3 (at highest remaining seeds):
Game 11: #2 NE Franklin Pierce 81, #1 SW Pace 75
Game 12: #1 NE Bentley 81, #3 NE Saint Anselm 65
Championship - Sunday, March 6th (at highest remaining seed):
Game 13: #2 NE Franklin Pierce at #1 NE Bentley - 3:00 P.M.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
