Men’s Basketball Tops Newbury College, Earns Top Seed in 2012-13 NECC Championship Tournament

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College senior guard Andre French (Torrington, Conn.) netted a game-high 18 points to lead four Blazers in double figures in Saturday evening's 78-61 victory over Newbury College in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) men's basketball action at Picknelly Arena.

With the win, Elms concludes its regular season with a 16-9 overall record, 14-2 in conference play, and have earned the top seed and a first round bye in the NECC Championship tournament. Newbury completes its regular season 14-11 overall, 12-4 in conference play and have garnered the second seed as well as a first round bye in the league tournament.

The NECC Championship bracket is as follows:
Tuesday, February 19
No. 6 Daniel Webster College at No. 3 Regis College - 8:00 p.m.
No. 5 Becker College at No. 4 Mitchell College - 7:00 p.m.

Friday, February 22 (Games played at Elms)
Winner 5/4 game at No. 1 Elms - 6:00 p.m.
Winner 6/3 game vs. No. 2 Newbury - 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 23 (game played at Elms)
2:00 p.m. Championship Game

French knocked down three three-pointers and notched six steals in the winning effort and was 6 of 21 shooting from the floor.

Freshman guard Jerry Buchanon (Windsor, Conn.) came off the bench to score 12 points, sophomore guard Piere Simpson (East Hartford, Conn.) added 10 points and three assists, and sophomore forward Kenneth Lockett (Atlanta, Ga.) was tremendous on the glass picking up a game-best 12 rebounds in addition to scoring 10 points.

Junior forward Isaiah Odunlami (Providence, R.I.) added seven points off the bench and senior center Carson Miller (New Oxford, Pa.) was an impact on the boards, hauling in seven rebounds as Elms' reserves outscored Newbury's 31-16 in the win.

Newbury's Kwame Thompson (Brockton, Mass.) led the Nighthawks with 13 points, followed by a 12-point effort from Eric Watson (New Rochelle, N.Y.) who was one of three players to sink a pair of treys in the losing effort. Tim Young (Brockton, Mass.) scored 10 points and connected from long distance twice and Cameron Owen (Concord, N.H.) swished two three-pointers to highlight his eight-point outing.

Steve Rosemond (Everett, Mass.) was a catalyst at both ends of the floor for the Nighthawks as he poured in 11 points and secured a team-high 11 rebounds.

With the scored tied at 41-41 with 17:48 to play in the game, Elms scored six straight points and 14 of the next 17 points to stake a commanding 61-44 lead capped by a French swish from beyond the arc.

A French free throw at the 8:37 mark gave the Blazers their largest lead of the game at 18 points (65-47) and didn't look back from there.