Holyoke, MA (March 5, 2023) – The #3 nationally ranked Northern Essex Community College men's basketball team picked up their 27th consecutive win on Sunday afternoon by a 91-76 final over Roxbury Community College and in the process punched their ticket to the programs first NJCAA National Championship Tournament in Herkimer, NY March 14-18.
The win improves the Knights overall record to 31-1 and they will find out their placement and path to the national title on Wednesday afternoon at 2:00pm when the NJCAA releases the tournament bracket live on the NJCAA network.
NECC never trailed on Sunday afternoon as they won the opening tip and Mehmet Asik (Ankara, Turkey) immediately found his way to the basket for a quick 2-0 lead. NECC would open up a lead to as many as 14 in the first half, but RCC would continuously climb back before the Knights took a 42-31 lead to the locker room at halftime.
The lock down defensive efforts of Jonathan Lingisi (Hamilton, ON) and Edwin SamMbaka (Paris, FR) held the Tigers top two scorers below their season averages, while on the offensive side of the ball, Lingisi had a championship performance as he dropped a career high 24 points.
Ryan Pacy (Salem, NH) has his highest scoring output since the first week of December as he dropped in 17 points off the bench. Three other Knights joined the Pacy and Lingisi in double figures as Asik tossed in 13 and the Lawrence pairing of Jeremiah Melendez and Luis Reynoso each added 11.
Sunday's championship marked the Knights fourth all-time appearance and second year in a row in the championship game under head coach Darren Stratton.
NOTE:
The college and local community are invited to join the Knights basketball team on Wednesday afternoon for the NJCAA Selection show at 2:00pm on the Haverhill campus. The viewing party is set for Lecture Hall A in the Spurk Building.