The St. Thomas Aquinas College men's basketball team carries the #1 seed into Saturday's East Coast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament semi-finals, where they will meed #4 seed Daemen College in a rematch of last season's ECC Tourney final. Tip-off is set for 5:00 at Hubbell Gymnasium at the University of Bridgeport.
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Reyes, Watler in ECC Spotlight - Spartans junior forward Justin Reyes was named the ECC's Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, after earning Rookie of the Year and Third Team honors in his freshman campaign. Senior Chaz Watler was named to this year's Second Team, completing the four-year grand slam of All-Conference honors. The past two seasons he earned First Team kudos, while snagging Rookie of the Year and Third Team for his freshman campaign.
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Spartans in the ECC Tourney - St. Thomas Aquinas captured its third consecutive ECC Regular Season Championship and will carry the top seed into action, looking to reclaim their Tournament Championship of a year ago. This is their fourth appearance in as many years, with the Spartans having advanced to the finals each of the previous three seasons.
The Match-up - The Spartans (23-5, 17-3) will meet #4 Daemen (19-8, 12-6), which advanced via Wednesday night's 73-71 victory over the University of the District of Columbia in Amherst, NY. Second Team All-ECC selection Arif Mehmetaj netted 23 points to lead the Wildcats to the tournament semis for the second time in as many seasons, since they have been eligible to do so.
In fact, Damen was the opponent for STAC in last season's final, with the Spartans taking their first conference crown in an 80-63. Watler led four Spartans in double-figures with 20 points while Reyes chipped in 19.
The teams split the regular season series with each holding serve on home court. On January 4, the Wildcats prevailed in a 67-64 decision, with a last-second shot to tie missing the mark. Watler led the way a game-high 19 points, while Supreme Hannah and Deion Hamilton posting 15 each for Daemen.
In the recap less than three weeks ago at Aquinas Hall, the Spartans exploded to an early 15-3 advantage before coasting to an 84-50 triumph. Adam Koziol came off the STAC bench to hit his first seven shots from beyond the arc en route to a career-high 23 points, with Hamilton pacing the Wildcats with 10.
What's Next? - Semi-final action will wrap on with #2 Molloy taking on #3 Bridgeport in a 7:30 tip. The winner of that game will face the winner of STAC-Daemen on Sunday at 2:30 pm for the ECC Championship. For Full ECC Tournament Schedule and Information, Click Here.
NCAA Bound? - St. Thomas Aquinas is in search of its second trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament in as many seasons. The ECC Tournament Champion receives an automatic berth to the NCAAs, but, unlike last season, the Spartans' current #4 regional ranking leaves them in excellent position for an at-large bid should they not take the title. Location, dates and pairings for the NCAA Tournament are to be determined on Sunday night.