BUFFALO, NY - For the third time in four years the Medaille College men's basketball team is headed to the Big Dance, this time it came courtesy of a hard fought (65-52) victory over Penn State-Behrend in the AMCC Championship game.  The win gives Medaille a program best (25) victories on the season.

The Mavs and Lions played a very clean game with each team staying in single digits in the turnover category.  The Mavs dominated the glass as they outrebounded Penn State-Behrend (33-22) including a (9-3) edge on the offensive glass.  The Medaille bench outscored the Lion reserves (21-14) while each team shot well from behind the arc as Medaille knocked down (10 of 19) long range attempts and Behrend connected on (8 of 18) three point attempts.

Leading the way for Medaille was senior Phil Maiarana who poured in a team best (17) points on (5 of 8) shooting from the floor and (6 of 7) from the charity stripe.  Nine Mavs scored four points or more in the win with a pair of them tallying nine points apiece, Steve Bryant and Tyler Stevens, each of whom knocked down a couple of critical three's.

Senior big man David Shuey# was held to four points but he had a huge offensive rebound with (3:23) remaining that led to a Maiarana three pointer which put the game seemingly out of reach.  He then came up with a game deciding steal on the next possession which led to two more points by Maiarana (a pair of free throws), which gave Medaille a (62-46) lead with (2:32) left.  The Mavs would not relinquish the lead en route to the huge victory.

The duo of Angel Flores and Josh Laureano combined for nine assists in the game while committing just one turnover, with Flores finishing with five assists and no turnovers and Laureano with four and just one miscue (a charge call), late in the game.  Flores chipped in with five points while Laureano notched four points and a blocked shot on a three point attempt.

The win is the 13th straight for Medaille as they move to (25-2) on the year.  This NCAA Tournament berth is the 13th for the Maverick Athletic Programs as the men's soccer and women's basketball teams have each gone five times; and this being the third for the men's program,  The Mavs will learn their tournament fate on Monday afternoon when the bracket is released.  Stay tuned to www.medaillesports.com for all NCAA Tournament developments.

SEASON STATS